Child development workers now have a shorter route to professional certification as technical-vocational institutions in 50 areas nationwide have started offering National Certificate III (NC III) courses in Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Services, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) said on Wednesday.
EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark Yee said the rollout marks a long-awaited step in supporting the professional development of child development workers (CDWs), many of whom have served in communities with limited access to formal training and career progression.
“We are finally able to actively support the professional development of our Child Development Workers by leveraging the strengths of TVET to provide high-quality, shorter-term credentials under TESDA,” Yee said.
“At the same time, we are working closely with CHED to ensure these units are fully creditable toward a Bachelor’s degree in ECCD, creating seamless pathways for upskilling and career progression,” he added.
Technical-vocational institutions in 45 provinces and five districts in the National Capital Region are now offering the ECCD Services NC III course.
The rollout builds on the June 2025 Joint Memorandum Circular signed by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Early Childhood Care and Development Council to standardize training for CDWs.
It also supports Republic Act 12199, or the ECCD System Act, which mandates the professionalization and regular employment of child development workers.
The 2026 national budget includes PHP226.9 million for a TESDA scholarship program for the initiative.
Based on EDCOM 2’s Year One findings released in 2024, only 52.2 percent of CDWs hold a college degree, while 16.8 percent are high school graduates, 6.1 percent have vocational certifications, and 24.8 percent have some college units.
EDCOM 2 said the NC III course seeks to close the qualification gap by providing accessible, competency-based certification for workers already serving in child development centers.
Funding for the program was first secured under the 2025 national budget, with the initial rollout targeting up to 25 percent, or about 2,854 of the 11,414 CDWs with only high school diplomas.
The commission also noted the urgency of strengthening the workforce, citing data showing that 52.6 percent of CDWs are aged 46 and above.
As of April 30, TESDA reported 89 program registrations nationwide, with 3,417 CDWs enrolled and 2,189 graduates.
TESDA has also trained and certified 407 trainers, 101 of whom have been issued National TVET Trainers Certificates.
Interested applicants may apply through TESDA’s scholarship portal, visit the nearest TESDA training center, download the TESDA Skills Passport app, or take modules through the TESDA Online Program. (PNA)