SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian flagged that despite the rollout of free certification for senior high school learners in the technical-vocational-livelihood (TVL) track, only 35 percent of target students were endorsed for assessment.

This represents just 197,077 out of 556,657 Grade 12 enrollees for School Year 2024–2025.

Out of the P438.16 million allotted for the assessment and certification of senior high school learners for Fiscal Year 2024, only 57 percent was utilized.

According to Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director-General Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez, many senior high school learners under the TVL track chose to pursue higher education instead of undergoing assessment and certification.

The TESDA chief also cited a misalignment between the training offered in senior high school and TESDA’s training regulations.

“Senior high school learners in the TVL track, or ‘tech-voc’ students, should be assessed and certified. In fact, there is a special provision mandating their assessment, but we cannot assess them if we do not have training regulations,” said Gatchalian, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Finance.

Gatchalian sought assurances from TESDA that future projections of students undergoing assessment and certification will be more accurate.