Equivalency test set in March

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) will administer next month the annual accreditation and equivalency (A&E) examination for learners in the non-formal education system.

Education Secretary Leonor Briones recently approved the guidelines for the conduct of the next A&E test, which will be held on March 4 in Luzon and March 11 in Visayas and Mindanao.

The test is a paper and pencil examination designed to measure the competencies of those who have neither attended nor finished elementary or secondary education in the formal school system.

It enables passers to obtain a diploma certifying their competencies as comparable graduates of the formal school system.

The A&E test is administered to learners of alternative learning system and other non-formal education programs, as well as out-school youth who are ready for assessment.

Based on the memorandum, applicants for the elementary level should be at least 12 years old, while those taking the test for junior high school should be at least 16 years old.

The test will be a multiple choice-type of examination, with the passing rate of 75 percent.

Briones directed local DepEd officials to facilitate the application and administration of the test.

Applications may be submitted to designated division and district offices until today.