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1.         The Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) through the Bureau of Nonformal Education (BNFE), developed the Nonformal Education Accreditation and Equivalency (NFE A &E) System under the Asian Development Bank (ADB)- assisted Philippines Nonformal Education Project.

2.         The NFE A & E System provides an alternative means of certification of learning to those who have dropped out of the formal elementary and secondary schools system.  Through this program, Out-of-School Youth and Adults are provided the opportunity to gain a certification which is comparable to the elementary and secondary diploma of the formal school system.

3.         In order to ensure that the NFE A & E program completers can gain access to further education and training opportunities as avenues to improve employability and quality of life, the DECS is forging articulation agreements with institutions providing post-secondary education and training programs.

4.         To this end, the DECS has established a linkage with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on January 17, 2001 with the following commitments:

4.1    That DECS and CHED will work to ensure articulation of their non-formal education learning systems across all levels of program implementation;

4.2    That as part of this articulation, CHED and its member institutions recognize the NFE A &E Secondary Level Certificate as a qualification, comparable to that of the Diploma of the formal school system;

4.3    That NFE A&E Secondary Level Certificate holders will be accepted into the post-secondary education programs of CHED member institutions subject to the usual screening procedures of such institution for regular enrolees;

4.4    That NFE A&E Secondary Level Certificate holders will be eligible for consideration of Recognition of their Prior Learnings through access to CHED's Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP);

4.5    That DECS and CHED will collaborate to advocate for improved access to post-basic education and training programs offered by private providers and State Universities /Colleges for NFE A&E Secondary level Certificate holders;

4.6    That DECS and CHED will work jointly to support efforts to institutionalize the Recognition of Prior Learning as a mechanism to improve educational access opportunities for poor and underserved Filipinos Out-of-School -Youth (OSY) and Adults;

4.7    That DECS and CHED will work jointly to strengthen the development, implementation and expansion of educational equivalency programs as part of the formation of a national alternative learning system incorporating nonformal and post basic education.

5. With this agreement, thousands of out-of-school-youth and adults will benefit from the NFE A&E program and CHED education and training programs to improve their basic skills in critical thinking, problem solving and decision making, thus opening other opportunities and life choices to improve the quality of life and that of their families.

6. Attached is a copy of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between DECS and CHED for your reference.

7. Immediate and wide dissemination of the contents of this Memorandum to all concerned is desired.

Adopted: 26 March 2001

(SGD.) ISAGANI R. CRUZ
Undersecretary for Programs and Projects

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:

This AGREEMENT made and entered into by and between:

The Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) with office address at DECS Complex, Meralco Ave., Pasig City, herein represented by DECS Secretary, BRO. ANDREW B. GONZALEZ, FSC, hereinafter referred to as the First Party.

--and--

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) with principal address at the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), San Miguel Drive, Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City, herein represented by Chairman, ESTER A. GARCIA, hereinafter referred to as the Second Party.

--WITNESSETH--
WHEREAS, the Philippine Government, through the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have entered into Loan Agreement No. 1254-PHI (SF), otherwise known as the Philippine Non-formal Education (PNFE) Project;

WHEREAS, the PNFE Project envisions to contribute to the country’s poverty alleviation program by raising the basic and functional literacy skills of the poor to enhance their capabilities to engage in self-help and community activities;

WHEREAS, a core component of the PNFE Project is the Development of Nonformal Education Accreditation and Equivalency (NFE A &E) System as an alternative means of certification of learning to those Filipinos aged 15 years and above, who are unable to avail of the formal school system, or who have dropped out of formal elementary or secondary school;

WHEREAS, the NFE A &E System is a pioneering effort to offer a uniquely nonformal alternative learning system to formal schooling, with a truly nonformal curriculum and utilizes a range of innovative nonformal learning strategies designed to break down traditional learning barriers of time , accessibility and resources;

WHEREAS, the NFE A&E System incorporates two levels of equivalency testing and certification comparable to the elementary and secondary levels of the formal school system;

WHEREAS, the DECS and CHED are committed in improving equity and access to education services in order to improve the marketable skills and life opportunities of Out-of-School-Youth and Adults.

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the foregoing premises and the mutual stipulations and covenants herein set forth, DECS and CHED hereby agree on the following:

That DECS and CHED will work to ensure articulation of their nonformal education learning systems across all levels of program implementation;

That as part of this articulation, CHED and its member institutions recognize the NFE A&E Secondary Level Certificate as a qualification comparable to that of the Diploma of the formal school system;

That NFE A&E Secondary Level Certificate holders will be accepted into the post-secondary education programs of CHED member institutions subject to the usual screening procedures of such institutions for regular enrollees;

That NFE A&E Secondary Level Certificate holders will be eligible for consideration of the Recognition of their Prior Learnings through access to CHED’s Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP);

That DECS and CHED will collaborate to advocate for improved access to post-basic education and training programs offered by private providers and State Universities/Colleges for NFE A&E Secondary Level Certificate holders;

That DECS and CHED will work jointly to support efforts to institutionalize the Recognition of Prior Learning as a mechanism to improve educational access opportunities for poor and underserved Filipinos OSY and Adults;

That DECS and CHED will coordinate closely with other education providers to support the development of national equivalency competency standards to provide multiple pathways of learning for Filipinos who are unable to avail of the educational opportunities of the formal education system;

That DECS and CHED will work jointly to support efforts to strengthen skills and competency development of Out-of-School Youth and Adults in preparation for entrance to post-secondary education programs including the development of academic-focused bridging programs for NFE A&E Secondary Level passers;

That DECS and CHED will work jointly to strengthen the development, implementation and expansion equivalency programs as part of the formation of a national learning system incorporating nonformal and post-basic education;

This AGREEMENT shall take effect upon signing of this Agreement by the FIRST PARTY and the SECOND PARTY.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have signed this AGREEMENT on the date and place appearing on the acknowledgment hereof:

Adopted: 17 Jan. 2001

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, CULTURE AND SPORTS (DECS)	COMMISSION ON HIGHER EDUCATION (CHED)
(SGD.) ANDREW B. GONZALEZ, FSC	ESTER A. GARCIA
Secretary	Chairperson
Signed in the Presence of:
(SGD.) ROSARIO J. DE GUZMAN	ROGER P. PEREZ
Director IV	Witness