New law allows Filipinos to earn college degrees through non-traditional learning
Filipinos are now eligible to earn a Bachelor's degree by translating their accumulated life experiences into academic credentials.
On Monday, March 3, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the Republic Act 12124, or the act institutionalizing the expanded tertiary education equivalency and accreditation program. This enables Filipinos, especially working professionals, to finish their college education for career advancement.
The Presidential Communications Office said on Wednesday that the new law, led by the Commission on Higher Education, will allow Filipinos to earn degrees through their work and life experiences. CHED will authorize colleges to offer these programs and set the standards for assessing and granting credits.
"Our vision is to empower more Filipinos by providing alternative pathways to education. We understand how important a college diploma is for our kababayans, and we want to ensure that they can take advantage of their work experiences, achievements, and skills to earn a Bachelor's Degree without going through traditional schooling methods," said Senator Joel Villanueva, principal sponsor and author of the law.
Rep. Mark Go also noted that the new law addresses “long-standing educational disparities” by providing opportunities for individuals who weren’t able to finish school due to financial, geographical, or personal barriers.
What it means for working Filipinos without college degrees
According to the law, CHED-accredited higher education institutions implementing the ETEEAP will do a strict evaluation and assessment of applicants' professional knowledge and skills to determine if they meet the academic standards required for an equivalent academic degree.
Pinoys who weren’t able to pursue or finish college will now be able to earn the appropriate academic degree without having to go back to traditional schooling. Their learnings from formal, non-formal, and informal learning systems, as well as work experiences, will be translated into academic credits.
To qualify, applicants must be a Filipino citizen residing in the Philippines or abroad and aged 23 years old and above. They must have completed a secondary school program, which may be proven by “a high school diploma or the result of the Philippine Educational Placement Test or Alternative Learning System Accreditation and Equivalency Assessment and Certification stating that the individual concerned is qualified to enter college.”
They must also have at least five years of relevant work experience and pass the comprehensive competency assessment to earn equivalency credits.
