UNIVERSITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

GRADUATE SCHOOL
PhD Educational Leadership
CONCEPT PAPER
By:
Gracelda T. Pangantihon
Perception of ICT Industry Sector to Competency Assessment
and Certification of the Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA) in Region XI
Employers use industry-based certifications in several different
ways. The two main strategies are (1) for assessing new hires and (2)
for addressing skill development and promotion of current workers.
Certifications help to take the guesswork out of the selection process. By
matching the certification with the skills required, the company validates
that the job seeker has the skills to do the work. Employers add the
certification as preferred or required to their job description. Industry
certifications can help employers build the skills of their current workers.
Training based on the certification standards can also be conducted in

partnership with a nearby community or technical college. Industry

certifications can be used to promote sound promotional practices
(Manufacturing Institute, 2016).
In the Philippine setting, RA 7796 section 14.B,1-2 mandates the
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to (1)
develop and establish a national system of skills standardization, testing
and certification in the country; and (2) to design, innovate and adopt
processes and methodologies whereby industry groups and workers
guilds take note on progressively the responsibility of setting skills
standards for identified occupational areas, and the local government
units actively participate in promoting skills standards, testing and
certification. To live up to this mandate, TESDA pursues the assessment
and certification of the competencies of the middle-level skilled workers
through Philippine TVET Competency Assessment and Certification
System (PTCACS). The assessment process seeks to determine
whether the graduate or worker can perform to the standards expected in
the workplace based on the defined competency standards. Certification
is provided to those who meets the competency standards. This ensures
the productivity, quality and global competitiveness of the middle-level
workers.
National Certificate (NC) is issued by TESDA to successful takers
who demonstrated competencies for a particular qualification and this
has four levels, namely, NC I, NC II, NC III and NC IV.

National

Certificate I (NC I) holder performs routine and predictable tasks with little
judgment and works under supervision. National Certificate II (NC II)
holder performs prescribed range of functions involving known routines
and procedures with little accountability. National Certificate III (NC III)
holder performs wide range of skills, works with complexity and choices,
contributes to problem solving and work processes and shows
responsibility for self and others. National Certificate IV (NC IV) holder
performs a wide range of applications, have responsibilities that are
complex and non-routine, provides some leadership and guidance of
others, performs evaluation and analysis of work practices and the
development of new criteria and procedures.
This study is presented to determine the perception of the
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry sector to the
effectiveness of the Competency Assessment and Certification System
(CACS) and relevance of National Certificate to the ICT industry
manpower needs. The result of the study is significant for continuous
quality improvement of TESDA CACS and to further improve and
strengthen linkages and partnership with ICT industry sector, as the end
users of skilled workers.

GRACELDA T. PANGANTIHON
09328533644
grace.pangantihon@gmail.com