The Department of Education (DepEd) commended 400 learners from the Alternative Learning System (ALS) who successfully completed the Micro-Certification for Life Skills Program, designed to boost employability and life readiness. Developed in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the program teaches essential skills such as communication, leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving.
In a statement, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara highlighted the program’s inspirational value, saying, “Sa ating mga (To our) micro-certification completers, kayo po ang pruweba na hindi kailangang mabilis ang pagkuha ng life goals (you are the proof that life goals are not needed to be attained swiftly). It can come in steps, in modules, in micro-wins that eventually build a life of purpose and pride.” He added, “Because in ALS, we don’t just measure success by how high you’ve climbed, but by how far you’ve come.”
The program uses a 360-degree assessment for granting formal credentials, involving self-ratings, teacher evaluations, and community input. Its pilot run across eight school divisions—Manila, Aurora, Batangas, Iriga, Lapu-Lapu, Misamis Oriental, Davao City, and South Cotabato—resulted in 2,854 micro-certificates. Studies from 2022 to 2025, conducted by DepEd, UNICEF, the Assessment, Curriculum and Technology Research Centre, and the University of Melbourne, have confirmed the reliability of this life skills assessment approach.