Filipinos can now earn degrees through non-traditional means after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the expanded tertiary education equivalency and accreditation program (ETEEAP) into law on Monday.
Republic Act No. 12124, or the ETEEAP Act, allows working professionals to complete their college education for career advancement. The program will assess, validate, and assign academic credits for prior formal, non-formal, and informal learning, as well as relevant work experience.
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) will lead the implementation of ETEEAP. Its duties include deputizing higher education institutions (HEIs) to offer ETEEAP programs, setting standards for assessing skills and competencies, and granting or revoking HEIs’ authority to implement the program.
CHED will also monitor ETEEAP’s implementation, organize consultations, and set standard fees for accreditation to fund the program.
To ensure smooth implementation, the Office of Programs and Standards Development under CHED will serve as the technical secretariat for the new law.
Filipino citizens, both local and abroad, can apply for equivalency and accreditation if they meet the following requirements:
-At least 23 years old
-Completed secondary school (high school diploma or equivalent certification); and
-A minimum of five years of work experience related to the degree they wish to pursue.
–IMT
