THE Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Board has officially approved the National Certification (NC) III for Child Development Workers (CDWs) to professionalize the early childhood education workforce and improve the quality of ECCD for Filipino children.
“This is a recognition of the critical role that CDWs play in shaping the lives of our youngest learners,” said TESDA Secretary and former EDCOM 2 Commissioner Kiko Benitez. “With the NC III for Early Childhood Care and Development, parents and guardians can be confident that our CDWs will gain the competencies needed to help children aged 0-4 in their holistic development.”
This approval aligns with the recently enacted RA 12199 or the ECCD System Act which mandates enhanced training and qualifications, higher compensation, and continuing professional development for Child Development Workers and Child Development Teachers (CDTs).
The new NC III for Early Childhood Care and Development Services also comes after the Second Congressional Commission on Education’s (EDCOM 2) findings highlighting the need for more support for CDWs and CDTs. According to EDCOM 2’s Year One Report, 16.8% or 11,414 of CDWs across the country have only completed high school. Moreover, 89% of CDWs remain in non-permanent positions, and earn an average monthly salary of just around PhP 5,000 leaving them without job security or access to regular benefits.
In its Year Two Report, the Commission advocated for “fixing the foundations” of the education system: nutrition in the early years, access to early childhood education, and literacy in Kindergarten to Grade 3, or Key Stage 1. The new NC III also follows EDCOM 2 Co-Chairperson Senator Sherwin Gatchalian’s successful endorsement for an PhP 80M allocation in the 2025 national budget for its creation.
Under the newly approved TESDA NC, CDWs will undergo standardized training and assessment in line with TESDA’s Training Regulations for Early Childhood Education. The new training regulations also cover managing child development center operations, conducting assessments on progress and development of children, and the implementation of the early childhood care and development curriculum.
“We have more than 68,000 CDWs nationwide, many of whom have not been given the tools, training, or compensation that will help them effectively perform their duties . This certification is a crucial step toward their professionalization, which will improve both the delivery and quality of ECCD programs and services,” said EDCOM 2 Co-Chairperson Senator Sherwin Gatchalian.
Rep. Roman Romulo, also an EDCOM 2 Co-Chairperson, echoed the sentiment: “We cannot solve the learning crisis without first strengthening its foundation—and Child Development Workers (CDWs) are at the frontlines. The newly approved TESDA NC III is a key step in investing in their skills, dignity, and future by providing standardized training in early childhood education, center management, and child development. This initiative strengthens the quality of care and education provided to young children and reinforces the critical role of CDWs in early learning and development.”
To complement the rollout of the new NC III program, TESDA has launched its Regional Lead Trainers’ Development Program, an initiative aimed at building a pool of qualified trainers at the regional level who can facilitate training programs, particularly for new training regulations. The program is set to conclude on May 28, 2025. In addition, Regional Lead Trainers will undergo a two-week industry immersion for further training.
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