The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) have formalized a partnership to harmonize curricula for key industries that are seen as critical to the country’s long-term economic growth.
The agreement comes amid growing concerns over persistent skills mismatches between graduates and labor market demands, an issue that has long challenged the Philippine education system and slowed workforce development.
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Streamlining Education for Growth Sectors
The deal was sealed on September 15 through a Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) signed during the “Converge to ACHIEVE: The Higher Education Summit” held at the Manila Hotel. The memorandum creates a unified structure to oversee curriculum standards across six priority clusters identified by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2): advanced manufacturing, digital technology, healthcare, financial services, tourism, and the creative economy.
“Today's signing of the Joint Memorandum Circular is a testament to our commitment to a future-proof higher education system,” CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis said. “By establishing the Board for Curriculum Standards and Discipline Councils, we are directly addressing critical skills gaps identified by EDCOM 2,” she added.
The new framework consolidates the separate curriculum-setting bodies of CHED and TESDA into a single mechanism. Sector Skills Councils under the agreement will draft five-year roadmaps for each industry, contribute to Philippine Skills Frameworks, and create “ladderized” pathways that allow students to transition seamlessly between technical-vocational training and higher education.
Building a Future-Ready Workforce
EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark Yee described the signing as a milestone in reform. “These agreements are the culmination of intensive collaboration and strategic foresight, directly reflecting EDCOM 2's call to build a ‘working’ education system, with CHED and TESDA collaborating closely to ensure relevant and responsive programs for our students,” Yee said.
TESDA Director General Kiko Benitez also underscored the partnership’s impact on technical-vocational education. “This JMC provides the framework to revolutionize technical-vocational education and training, making it more dynamic and responsive to industry needs,” Benitez said.
The collaboration is aligned with EDCOM 2’s upcoming National Education and Workforce Development Plan, which aims to create a more integrated, data-driven education system capable of bridging gaps between learning and employment. By aligning programs with industry demands, CHED and TESDA hope to produce graduates with the right mix of academic knowledge and practical skills, strengthening the Philippines’ workforce competitiveness in global markets.
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