SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian encouraged senior high school learners in the technical-vocational-livelihood (TVL) track to take advantage of the free assessment for national certification, which could improve their chances of finding employment.

This follows the Department of Education’s release of DepEd Order No. 003 s. 2025, outlining the guidelines for implementing quality-assured assessments for SHS learners in the TVL track.

The DepEd Order covers the following eligible learners for the free assessment: SHS-TVL learners currently enrolled in public and private schools for SY 2024-2025 and 2025-2026; ALS learners in the SHS-TVL track for the same school years; and SHS-TVL and ALS graduates from public and private schools in SY 2022-2023 and 2023-2024.

Gatchalian pushed for the allocation of funding for the assessment and certification program for fiscal years 2024 and 2025.

For the current fiscal year, P275.861 million has been allotted for the SHS assessment and certification program, while P438.162 million is allocated for FY 2024.

“Senior high school students in the TVL track no longer need to pay for the assessment and national certification, which will help them find better jobs,” said Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

To implement the assessment and certification program, Gatchalian also sought funding to increase the number of assessors.

For FY 2024, P50.012 million was allocated for hiring additional assessors. For this year, P25.882 million was added to expand the pool of assessors.