PQF Act

Case Overview and Summary

Republic Act No. 10968 or the "PQF Act"

Declaration of Policy (Section 2):
- Institutionalize the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) to encourage lifelong learning, provide training standards aligned with industry, ensure compliance of educational institutions, and provide a common taxonomy for recognizing qualifications.

Definitions (Section 3):
- Basic Education: Kindergarten, elementary, secondary, and alternative learning systems.
- Higher Education: Post-secondary education leading to academic degrees.
- Qualification: Formal certification of achieved learning outcomes.
- Technical Vocational Education and Training: Education involving technology-related sciences and practical skills.
- Trifocalized Education and Training: Shared administration by DepED (basic education), TESDA (technical-vocational), and CHED (higher education).

Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) (Section 4):
- Describes levels of educational qualifications and sets standards for qualification outcomes.
- Objectives:
    - Adopt national standards and levels of learning outcomes (Section 4a).
    - Support development of pathways and equivalencies for access to qualifications (Section 4b).
    - Align domestic qualification standards with international frameworks (Section 4c).

PQF-National Coordinating Council (PQF-NCC) (Section 5):
- Composed of DepED Secretary (Chairperson), DOLE Secretary, CHED Chairperson, TESDA Director General, PRC Chairperson, economic sector representative, and industry sector representative.
- Powers and functions include:
    - Harmonize qualification levels across education levels (Section 5(1)).
    - Align education standards and learning outcomes with PQF level descriptors (Section 5(2)).
    - Promote the PQF and its elements (Section 5(3)).
    - Rationalize quality assurance mechanisms (Section 5(4)).
    - Develop and recognize pathways and equivalencies (Section 5(5)).
    - Maintain national registry of qualifications (Section 5(6)).
    - Ensure international alignment of PQF (Section 5(7)).
    - Create technical working groups (Section 5(8)).
    - Represent the country in international fora on qualifications (Section 5(9)).
    - Review and update the PQF (Section 5(10)).
    - Submit progress reports to the President, Senate, and House of Representatives (Section 5(11)).
    - Perform other functions related to PQF implementation (Section 5(12)).

PQF-NCC Working Groups (Section 6):
- Working groups shall be established in areas such as qualifications register, quality assurance, pathways and equivalencies, information and guidelines, and international alignment.

Industry Sector Participation (Section 7):
- Industry sector representatives shall be consulted and tapped in the development and implementation of the PQF to ensure alignment with industry requirements.

Framework and Level Descriptors (Section 8):
- PQF shall incorporate qualifications level descriptors defined in terms of knowledge, skills, values, application, and degree of independence.
- PQF-NCC shall make detailed descriptors for each qualification level, following principles of lifelong learning and recognition of prior learning.
- National pilot programs shall be implemented to determine relevance and applicability in all levels of education.
- DOLE shall provide labor market information for prioritization of learning standards development.

Review of Assessment System (Section 9):
- PRC and CHED shall review the system of assessment of learning outcomes and align them with the PQF.

Permanent Secretariat (Section 10):
- PQF-NCC shall organize a permanent technical secretariat.
- Secretariat may contract services of technical experts and authorities.

Identification of Priority Sectors (Section 11):
- CHED, TESDA, and DepED, in consultation with industry, DOLE, PRC, DTI, NEDA, DOST, and other related agencies, shall identify priority sectors and programs for the PQF implementation, considering labor market realities.

Support from Other Government Agencies (Section 12):
- DOST, NEDA, DBM, and other related agencies shall extend necessary support and provide relevant inputs for effective PQF implementation.

Appropriations (Section 13):
- Initial implementation shall be sourced from current budgets and development funds of CHED, TESDA, and DepED.
- Subsequent implementation funds shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.

Implementing Rules and Regulations (Section 14):
- Within ninety (90) days after effectivity, DepED, CHED, TESDA, DOLE, and PRC, in consultation with stakeholders, shall issue necessary rules and regulations for effective implementation.

Separability Clause (Section 15):
- If any part is held unconstitutional or invalid, other parts not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

Repealing Clause (Section 16):
- All laws, rules, regulations, proclamations, executive orders or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are modified or amended accordingly.

Effectivity (Section 17):
- This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or a national newspaper of general circulation.