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TESDA Circular No. 021-2023
TESDA Circular No. 021-2023
SUBJECT: General Guidelines on the Minimum Requirements No. ,b21 series of 2023
and Provision of Academic Policies for Institutions/
Schools Offering PQF Level 5 (Diploma) Programs Page 1 of 20 pages
I. RATIONALE/BACKGROUND
In 2017, TESDA issued Circular No. 38, the implementing guidelines for the PQF
Level 5 (Diploma) program pilot implementation that aimed to support the
government and the private sector in enhancing the Philippines' global
competitiveness through the development of a highly competitive and innovative
Filipino workforce.
The previous guidelines did not provide for the minimum requirements for
technical and higher education institutions to be able to offer PQF Level 5
(Diploma) Programs. The provision of minimum requirements is an important
aspect of quality assurance to ensure that the said institutions/schools have the
capacity to offer the program.
Hence, the need to provide an agency guideline for reference of the technical
and higher education institutions in enhancing and institutionalizing their
respective academic policies and procedures.
II. SCOPE
This Circular shall apply to the technical and higher education institutions,
particularly, the TESDA Administered Schools (TAS), private Higher Education
Institutions (HEIs), State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), Local Universities
and Colleges (LUCs), and private TVis (school) offering PQF Level 5 (Diploma)
programs.
III. OBJECTIVES
These guidelines generally aim to provide the technical and higher education
institutions with general guidelines to enhance and institutionalize their respective
academic policies and procedures and adhere to the minimum requirements in
implementing the PQF Level 5 (Diploma) programs without encroaching on the
institution's practice of academic freedom.
18) Promotion means moving up one academic year level when all required
conditions are met.
19) RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) refers to the acknowledgment of a
person's skills and knowledge acquired through previous training, work, or
life experience, which may be used to grant status or credit. (IRR of RA No.
10968)
20) Retention means being held one academic year level behind when the
required final passing grade of a certain number of course(s) enrolled is not
met.
TESDA CIRCULAR
SUBJECT: General Guidelines on the Minimum Requirements No. 021 series of 2023
and Provision of Academic Policies for Institutions/
Schools Offering PQF Level 5 (Diploma) Programs Page 5 of 20 pages
21) Semestral System is a system that divides the academic year into two (2)
terms, often called the first and second semesters. Each term is
approximately 18 weeks long, with a semestral break after each term.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semestral
22) School credentials refer to academic credentials such as a degree or a
diploma, educational or completion certificates, or similar documents that
indicate completion or accumulation of credits from a program such as
transfer credentials, student academic records, and transcript of records.
23) Special Order (SO) refers to the authority granted to the TVI by the TESDA
Provincial Director to graduate a particular learner from a specified
registered program on a certain date, provided the learner has satisfied the
training requirements. (TESDA Circular No. 7, s. 2016)
24) TES or Tertiary Education Subsidy is a program established to benefit all
Filipino learners who shall enroll in post-secondary TVET programs
registered under TESDA-recognized privately-run institutions, subject to
prioritization and availability of funds, provided that they comply with the
admission and retention policies and existing residency rules of the
institution. (RA 10931)
25) UAQTEA or Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, is a
program established through RA 10931 providing free tuition and other
school fees in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), Local Universities
and Colleges (LUCs), and state-run Technical Vocational Institutions
(STVIs); establishing the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) and Student
Loan Program (SLP), and strengthening the Unified Student Financial
Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST). (TESDA Circular No. 60,
s. 2018)
26) Withdrawal is officially disenrolling from all courses for the semester.
The technical and higher education institutions that offer PQF Level 5 (Diploma)
Program shall comply with the minimum requirements of an Institute or College
under the Typology of Private and Public TVIs as follows:
provides for the school calendar that shall start on the first Monday of
June but not later than the last day of August;
• CHED Memorandum Circular No. 01, series of 2011 re Guidelines on
Adoption of School Calendar and CHED position on changing the
Academic Calendar; and
• DepEd Department Order (DO) No. 034 series of 2022, which provides
the formal opening of the School Year 2022-2023 on 22 August 2022
and shall end on 7 July 2023. It shall consist of 203 school days or as
may be determined by further issuance/s in case of changes in the
school calendar due to unforeseen circumstances.
A.1.1 The technical and higher education institutions shall adopt the
semestral system in the implementation of scholarships for
the PQF Level 5 (Diploma) program;
A.1.2 The PQF Level 5 (Diploma) Program Curriculum shall be
developed and implemented following an academic year that
starts in August of the current year to July of the succeeding
year;
A.1.3 The total number of days on which regular learning sessions are
held shall not be less than two hundred (200) to not more than
two hundred twenty (220) per academic year;
A.1.4 A total of not less than seventeen (17) lecture hours in a term
shall be equivalent to one (1) unit of PQF Level 5 (Diploma)
program credit; a total of not less than thirty-five (35) hours of
laboratory or workshop in a term shall be equivalent to one (1)
unit of PQF Level 5 (Diploma) program credit;
A.1.5 The technical and higher education institutions shall prepare
and submit their respective academic calendar for the academic
year to the Provincial Office for the delivery of the PQF Level 5
or Diploma program. This shall include the minimum number of
learning hours and learning days as stipulated in the approved
curriculum using the prescribed template; and
A.1.6 Semestral break and midyear term break shall be the time for
pre and post-training activities, continuing professional
development of the faculty members, and other developmental
activities.
TESDA CIRCULAR
SUBJECT: General Guidelines on the Minimum Requirements No. 02t series of 2023
and Provision of Academic Policies for Institutions/
Schools Offering PQF Level 5 (Diploma) Programs Page 8 of 20 pages
A.2.1 The first semester for every academic year shall commence
every second Monday of August and ends within the second
week of December;
A.2.2 The second semester shall commence every second Monday
of January and ends within the second week of May of the
academic year;
A.2.3 One (1) academic year shall consist of not less than thirty-six
(36) weeks, or eighteen (18) weeks a semester, or it is
equivalent to normally five to six (5-6) school days each week,
exclusive of approved vacations and inclusive of legal and
special holidays and for special activities;
A.2.4 Midyear term shall commence every second Monday of June
and ends within the third week of July of the Academic Year;
A.2.5 A midyear term shall consist of five to six (5-6) weeks, and or it
is equivalent to normally five to six (5-6) school days each week,
exclusive of approved vacations and inclusive of legal and
special holidays and for special activities; and
A.2.6 Enrollment for the first semester shall commence after the end
of the midyear term until the opening of the semester.
B. Admission/Readmission
The following students are ineligible to avail of the Free TVET benefit:
B.5.1 learners who have obtained a bachelor's degree;
B.5.2 learners who are already holders of a certificate or diploma for
a technical-vocational course equivalent to National Certificate
Level III or higher, unless the trainee is enrolled in bundled
courses or programs in Level IV or Diploma;
B.5.3 learners who fail in any public TVET course since the effectivity
of the Act;
B.5.4 learners enrolled in TVET programs not registered under
TESDA; and
B.5.5 learners who voluntarily opt out of the free TVET provision.
C. Enrollment
E.1 For the Free TVET and TES under the UAQTEA, the scholars must
achieve an academic performance of passing 100% of the total
academic load enrolled and 80% general or grade point average
(GPA) of all courses to qualify for the next semester.
E.2 For the PQF Level 5 (Diploma) Program not covered by the Free
TVET and TES under the UAQTEA:
E.2.1 Students/learners with academic performance of below 50% of
the total academic loads enrolled shall become ineligible to
continue the program and shall be advised to enroll in other
PQF Level 5 (Diploma) or short-term TVET programs, except
for graduating learners/students;
E.2.2 A notice of probation allowing students/learners to continue to
the next semester shall be issued to students/learners who
achieved an academic performance of at least 50% and above
but below 75% of the total academic load enrolled, except for
graduating learners/students;
Students/learners are allowed only two (2) notices of probation;
otherwise, they become ineligible to continue the program
enrolled and shall be advised to enroll in other PQF Level 5 or
Diploma or short-term TVET programs, except for graduating
students; and
E.3. The conduct of mandatory assessment for the TR/qualification-based
courses of a PQF Level 5 (Diploma) Program is not a requirement for
the academic retention and promotion to the next semester. However,
based on the Diploma curriculum, the conduct of the national
assessment for the TR/qualification-based courses shall be within the
semesters or academic year. In conjunction with Article VI, item 15 of
TESDA Circular No. 119, s. 2020, there shall be at least six (6)
TR/qualification-based courses.
TESDA CIRCULAR
SUBJECT: General Guidelines on the Minimum Requirements No. 021 series of 2023
and Provision of Academic Policies for Institutions/
Schools Offering PQF Level 5 (Diploma) Programs Page 13 of 20 pages
F.1 For the Free TVET and TES under the UAQTEA, withdrawal from the
program and dropping courses shall result in the forfeiture of
scholarship grants;
F.2 Application to officially withdraw from the program enrolled shall be
allowed only before the start of classes and within two weeks from the
start of classes, subject to the approval of the institution;
F.3 Application for the official dropping of a course/courses of the Diploma
program enrolled shall be allowed within the first twenty (20) school
days of the semester, subject to the approval of the institution; and
F.4 Unofficial dropping of a course/courses shall result in a failed mark/
grade in the Transcript of Records.
G.1 The technical and higher education institutions shall manage the
conferment procedures for academic honors to students/learners that
specifically meet the required academic performance (general
weighted average) of a program.
The adoption of the Academic Excellence Award best practice shall
cover the following categories upon completion of academic
requirements and achieving the required general weighted average of
a program:
G.1.1 With Highest Honors
G.1.2 With High Honors
G.1.3 With Honors
G.2 Implement an institutional system of awards and recognition with
regard to the demonstration of excellence in various human endeavors
such as community development, leadership, teamwork, loyalty,
diligent service, etc.
1.1 The technical and higher education institutions shall organize a school
discipline committee that shall be responsible for handling the
disciplinary cases involving a student/learner. The discipline
committee shall guarantee an appeal mechanism and proper
representation of the students/ learners.
1.2 The technical and higher education institutions shall ensure that the
provisions mandated by the following laws shall be instituted, observed,
and demonstrated properly:
1.2.1 Anti-Hazing Act of 2018 or Republic Act No. 11053, "An Act
Prohibiting Hazing and Regulating Other Forms of Initiation
Rites for Fraternities, Sororities, and Other Organizations, and
Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof, Amending for the
Purpose Republic Act No. 8049, entitled "An Act Regulating
Hazing and Other Forms of Initiation Rites in Fraternities,
Sororities, and Organizations and Providing Penalties Therefor,"
specifically, Sections 6, 7, and 8; and
1.2.2 The Safe Spaces Act or Republic Act No. 11313, "An Act
Defining Gender-Based Sexual Harassment in Streets, Public
Spaces, Online, Workplaces, and Educational or Training
Institutions, Providing Protective Measures and Prescribing
Penalties Therefor," specifically, Article V (Gender-Based
Sexual Harassment in Educational and Training Institutions).
VII. RESPONSIBILITIES
The concerned offices shall perform the following responsibilities to ensure that
these guidelines are complied with, resulting in the enhancement and
institutionalization of academic policies and procedures in implementing the
PQF Level 5 or Diploma programs among the technical and higher education
institutions:
Regional Office
1. Organize region-wide dissemination of this Circular;
2. Monitor the region-wide implementation of the guidelines; and
3. Consolidate the provincial reports of compliance, issues/concerns, and
recommendations and submit said report to ROMO.
Provincial Offices
1. Disseminate and promote the institutionalization of academic policy for the
PQF Level 5 (Diploma) program among the technical and higher education
institutions;
2. Review, approve, and monitor academic calendar submitted, including
requests for change of schedule and adoption of other academic calendar
systems for non-scholarship implementation of PQF Level 5 (Diploma)
Program(s);
3. Check/validate the compliance of the technical and higher education
institutions with registered Diploma programs on the existence of their
academic policies and student handbook; and
4. Document and submit issues/concerns and recommendations to the
Regional Office for consolidation and appropriate action.
The technical and higher education institutions shall adopt the standard
academic calendar for new students effective AY 2023-2024. The existing
students/learners shall continue to implement the current academic calendar
until the students/learners have completed the PQF Level 5 (Diploma) program.
X. EFFECTIVITY
This Circular shall take effect as indicated and remains in full force unless
superseded.
DANILO P. CRUZ
Director General
TESDA CIRCULAR
SUBJECT: General Guidelines on the Minimum Requirements No. 021 series of 2023
and Provision of Academic Policies for Institutions/
Schools Offering PQF Level 5 (Diploma) Programs Page 17 of 20 pages
ANNEX 1
Technical and Higher Education Institution's Academic Training Calendar
2023 — 2024
August 2023 SEM ESTRAL SYSTEM February 2024
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
1 2 3 4 5 ENROLLMENT PERIOD 1 2 3
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 First Semester 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
13 In 15 16 17 18 19 July 24, 2023 to 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
20 21 22 23 24 25 26 August 11, 2023 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
27 28 29 30 31 Second Semester 25 26 27 28 29
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 28 Maundy Thursday 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
(Regular Holiday)
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
29 Good Friday 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
(Regular Holiday)
21 22 23 24 25 26 27 April 2024 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31 09 Araw ng Kagitingan 28 29 30 31
(Regular Holiday)
May 2024
01 Labor Day
(Regular Holiday)
June 2024
12 Independence Day
(Regular Holiday)
TESDA CIRCULAR
SUBJECT: General Guidelines on the Minimum Requirements No. 021 series of 2023
and Provision of Academic Policies for Institutions/
Schools Offering PQF Level 5 (Diploma) Programs Page 19 of 20 pages
ANNEX 2
INC Incomplete
1 Grade Point System is Final Equivalent Grade after the transmutation of raw scores or it is one of
the points assigned to each course credit in accordance with the letter grade earned in the course
2 Percentage Grade is a variation of a grading system that displays range of grades
3 Letter Grade is another variation for the grading system that can be adopted by the institution apart
ANNEX 3
Table 2. Base 60 Transmutation Table
Transmuted Transmuted
Initial Grade Initial Grade
Grade Grade
100 100
98.40 - 99.99 99 66.40 - 67.99 79
Raw Scores wherein Highest Score is 100 and Lowest Score is 60, Passing
Grade is 75%