Senior high school (SHS) graduates from public schools in Negros Occidental are given better employment opportunities through free National Certificate (NC) competency assessment in various technical-vocational livelihood (TVL) tracks from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

As part of the Provincial Assessment Week (PAW) set from April 21 to 26, at least 552 SHS graduates can undergo free assessment in identified assessment centers in the province.

“During the week-long activity, TESDA will conduct a simultaneous competency assessment for SHS graduates in various qualifications,” TESDA-Negros Island Region Interim Regional Director Niña Connie Dodd said in a statement on Tuesday.

Dodd, who led the launching of the PAW at Victorias National High School in Victorias City on Monday, said the free assessment will allow SHS graduates under the TVL track to validate their skills and enhance their employability.

Through the free assessment, participating students can save on the cost of examination fees, ranging from PHP1,000 to PHP5,000.

Those scheduled to undergo National Certificate (NC) assessments this week are students from Domingo Lacson National High School, Mandalagan National High School, Dr. Vicente F. Gustilo Memorial National High School, Caduha-An National High School, Carol-An National High School, Bilbao Uybico National High School, Rafael B. Lacson Memorial High School, Inocencio V. Ferrer Memorial School of Fisheries, Sofronio Carmona Memorial National High School, Bulanon Farm School Julio Ledesma National High School, and Victorias National High School.

Certificates will be provided for Computer Systems Servicing NC II, Bread and Pastry Production NC II, Cookery NC II, Electrical Installation and Maintenance NC II, Food and Beverage Services NC II, Housekeeping NC II, Electronic Products Assembly and Servicing NC II, Food Processing NC II, Agricultural Crops Production NC II, and Shielded Metal Arc Welding NC I.

A collaborative initiative between TESDA and the Department of Education, the PAW aligns with the joint memorandum circular signed by the two agencies to ensure quality-assured assessment for certification of the SHS-TVL track.

It aims to address financial barriers to NC assessments, improve certification rates, strengthen the quality of TVL education, and ultimately improve the employability of learners. (PNA)