DIPOLOG CITY, Sept. 26 (PIA) -- The three schools divisions of the cities of Dipolog and Dapitan and the province of Zamboanga del Norte are now ready for the conduct of the National Career Assessment Examinations (NCAE) to all third year high schools in public and private schools on Sept. 28.
“NCAE test questionnaires are now with these schools divisions and are ready for distribution to all public and private secondary schools in the area,” said Education Supervisor Pergentino Yabres of the Dipolog City division in an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) recently.
It was also learned that starting this school year the Department of Education (DepED) would be giving the NCAE to all third year high school students in both public and secondary schools nationwide. However, any graduating high school student who is applying for scholarship programs offered by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) can take the said examination provided that he/she belongs to the top 10 percent of the graduating class, has a general average grade of at least 80 percent in third year and comes from a family whose gross annual income is not more than P300.000. He/she is also required to submit a letter of intent signed by his/her parents signifying his/her interest in applying for CHED/TESDA scholarship.
NCAE is also open to other interested fourth year high school students, out-of-school-youth (OSY) and Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) passers.
The results of the NCAE will help determine the interest and career inclination of the student whether he/she would fit in technical-vocational programs, entrepreneurial or a college education course.
When asked why the NCAE is now given to third year high school students, DepED Secretary Armin Luistro said: “We deem it better to administer the NCAE to third year high school students to give them sufficient time for comprehensive career guidance before they enter the tertiary level.”
Luistro also explained that the result of the NCAE would serve as a guide to the parents and students “on what career track is best to take after high school graduation.” He, however, made it clear that “the NCAE is not mandatory but recommendatory.” (JPA/FPG/PIA-Zambo. Norte)
