Nepalese education officials benchmark on Philippine NFE programs

SEAMEO INNOTECH is facilitating a five-day study visit program for 12 Nepalese education officials from 24 to 28 November 2014. In coordination with World Education – Nepal, the study visit is designed for the participants to have a shared and deeper appreciation and understanding of the Philippine nonformal education (NFE) programs. The study visit focuses on program management and innovations, and the accreditation mechanisms in the Philippine education system.

The study visit includes learning sessions at the Center and in several educational institutions. The learning session in Bayanan Alternative Learning System Center revolved around Philippine education context, Department of Education’s programs, particularly the Alternative Learning System (ALS) and Equivalency Program.

DepEd provided an overview of the Philippine education system, and the three government education agencies – DepEd, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). As Nepal has only one education ministry, the learning session explained how the three Philippine education agencies work together and complement each other.

The visit in TESDA Women’s Center oriented the participants on the institution’s Ladderized Education Program (LEP), and the Philippine Qualifications Framework, among others. The participants also had an opportunity to visit and interact with officials of TESDA-accredited programs for a better understanding of how LEP is being operationalized.

The Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP) of CHED was discussed during the visit in Technological University of the Philippines (TUP). Equivalency and accreditation concerns in all of the three education agencies were also discussed in the learning sessions. Also included in the study visit is the National Education Testing and Research Center (NETRC).

Nepal’s shifting focus in NFE requires the rethinking of the nonformal education programs and needs to be more closely linked to vocational education and accreditation. The Philippines is identified as the ideal country for the study visit program for its innovative NFE programs and success in accreditation and equivalency for its NFE programs.

The visit cum workshop hopes for preliminary agreements on the formal establishment of a recognized NFE accreditation system in Nepal.