Obtaining a college degree is definitely an advantage for one to be hired in a stable and decent-paying job. However, the cost of higher education made studying a four to five-year course an almost impossible task for many Filipinos, especially for those living below the poverty line.

Fortunately, the government recently launched a system that makes the cost of college education affordable to all. The new system called the Ladderized Education System (LES) is a radical alternative method of education. It strengthens technical-vocational education because it help the students gain academic subjects that are creditable to college courses, improve their skills, and find employment.

This project of President Macapagal-Arroyo was launched in July 2006 together with Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairman Carlito Puno, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Augusto Syjuco, Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) Secretary Arturo Brion and Presidential Management Staff Chief and Presidential Adviser on Jobs Creation Arthur Yap.
 
Two government agencies, TESDA and CHED have agreed to use credit transfer and embedded technical-vocational education and training (TVET) qualification in ladderized degree programs as the implementation modes of the LES to make the transition from tech-voc to college courses easier. Credit transfer means that courses taken in TVET will be recognized by higher education. On the other hand, embedded TVET qualification is the process by which a student in a ladderized degree program can be qualified for full TVET qualifications if ever he or she decides not to continue college education but rather pursue a career in tech-voc.

For example a student taking a nursing course under the LES can have two years of tech-voc courses at TESDA-accredited LES schools and then take two more years in nursing proper to finish the course.

The Ladderized Education has 38,000 scholarships available in 79 schools, colleges, and universities nationwide. All of the 79 educational institutions are recognized by CHED and TESDA to implement ladderized system. The number of available scholarships and course offerings are expected to increase in the days to come.

Some Participating Institutions:

Course Offerings:

Requirements

Filipino citizen between 18-40 years old

High school graduate

Must not be a recipient of ay other government or private scholarship grant

Must enroll in a TESDA-CHED approved Ladderized Degree program in any educational institution authorized to offer ladderized courses

For more information on this program visit the TESDA or CHED office near your area or visit their website at www.tesda.gov.ph and www.ched.gov.ph.