The Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) have signed an agreement to establish a unified and interoperable data system designed to track Filipino learners across all levels of education.
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) was formalized during the first Joint Management Committee Meeting of the three agencies, with DepEd secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, CHED chairperson Shirley C. Agrupis, and Tesda director general Jose Francisco “Kiko” B. Benitez as signatories.
The initiative directly addresses a long-standing challenge identified by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (Edcom 2): fragmented information systems that hinder the monitoring of a learner’s progress from basic education through higher and technical-vocational training.
Currently, DepEd’s Learner Reference Number (LRN) and Tesda’s Unique Learner Identifier (ULI) exist separately, making integration difficult.
“For too long, our view of a student’s journey has been fragmented,” Angara said. “This isn’t just about numbers — it’s about understanding learners’ pathways and ensuring every Filipino has a genuine opportunity to succeed. This fulfills a core recommendation of Edcom 2, turning a critical diagnosis into decisive action.”
Benitez called the agreement a “game-changer” for aligning education with workforce needs.
“By understanding a learner’s background, we can better guide them into tracks that lead directly to in-demand jobs,” he said.
Agrupis emphasized its importance for higher education, noting that the system would help refine scholarships, improve enrolment projections, and ensure degree programs remain relevant.
The unified system is expected to enhance learner tracking, improve targeting of support programs such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and Bagong Pilipinas Merit Scholarship, and sharpen enrolment projections for state universities and colleges.
It will also link with other agencies, including the DICT, DOLE, DSWD, and the Philippine Statistics Authority, to support broader development goals.
CHED and Tesda will adopt DepEd’s LRN as the common identifier, while DepEd will ensure continuous issuance and sharing of data.
The system is slated for pilot implementation by 2026 and full deployment by 2027, supported by the Education Center for AI Research (ECAIR).
