2.  The propestice NFE A&E examinees are Out-of -School Yotuh and adults, aged 15 years and above (as of 01 July 2001) who are basically literate or have completed the Functional Education and Literacy Program (FELP). To be elible as a potential test taker, the prospective registrant must be out of school for at least three (3) months on the date of registration.

3.  Any misrepresentation made by any registrant with regard to his/her identity, age and status (out-of-school for at least three months) will render the registration and the test result invalid.

Those who have met the abovementioned qualifications will be allowed to register upon presentation of two copies of recent l”xl” photographs (taken within the past twelve months) and any authentic proof of identification as listed in Inclosure No.l. Applicants without photographs and authentic proof of identification will not be registered. They should be advised to register at any day within the registration period when they can present these requirements.

5.  There will be two levels of the NFE A&E Tests – Elementary Level (approximately three hours) and Secondary Level (approximately four hours) which are paper and pencil-based tests based on the skills and competencies detailed in the NFE A&E Curriculum Framework. The Bureau of Nonformal Education (BNFE) will be conducting limited trials of alternative assessment and certification methodology in selected sites for a small sample of NFE A&E Test Registrants. These alternative assessment methodologies are being developed in partnership with the Northern Territory University (NTU), Darwin, Australia, as part of the Expansion of the NFE A&E Assessment and Certification System.

6.  The NFE A&E System is a flexible learning system which recognizes prior learning gained outside the formal school. It is in this context that applicants who have not attended formal school may be allowed to take the tests provided they qualify in the screening process. Applicants who do not hold an Elementary Level certificate may opt to take the Secondary Level test, however, they should be made aware by the Test Registration Officer (TRO) that if they fail to pass the Secondary Level Test, they will not receive any certificate. Prospective registrants/examinees are generally advised to select the appropriate level of the test using the last grade/year completed in the elementary or secondary formal school system as a guide.

7.  Each Test Registration Form has a unique identification number which plays a critical role in the planning, administration and scoring of the Tests. Under no circumstance should any Test Registration form be photocopied and used for other registrants as this will seriously disrupt and undermine the test administration system.

8.  The Registration Period for the NFE A&E Tests starts on 30 April 2001 and ends on 30 May 2001. There will absolutely be no extension of the Registration Period to provide time for processing of the forms and packaging of test materials. No fees shall be paid by the test registrants/examinees.

9.  The Test Registration Officer must not be an Instructional Manager and preferably not a District Supervisor, Principal or a teacher with a heavy workload.

10.  There will absolutely be no change in the date of the NFE A&E Tests.

12.  The Bureau of Nonformal Education (BNFE), in coordination with the Center for Educational Measurement (CEM), the National Educational Testing and Research Center (NETRC), Bureau of Elementary Education, Bureau of Secondary Education, EDPITAF, the Regional Offices and Schools Divisions shall oversee this testing activity. The BNFE Director, Regional Directors and Schools Division Superintendents shall take charge of the effective supervision and administration of these tests in their respective sphere of responsibility.

13.  BNFE Staff will be assigned to the approved designated Registration Centers on the fourth week of May 2001 to observe and provide technical assistance to the Test Registration Officers (TRO) in the processing of registration forms and to oversee the preparation of the Test Registration Monitoring Form (TRM-01).

14.  The Test Registration Centers are public or private elementary or high schools which are designated/recommended by the Schools Division Superintendents. These centers shall have the necessary facilities as detailed in Inclosure No. 1. These Test Registration Centers shall also serve as the Testing Centers so the registrants will know where to go on Testing Day. No change of Testing Centers will be allowed unless absolutely necessary and with written approval of the Undersecretary for Programs and Projects or the Director IV of the BNFE.

16.  Qualified registrants should preferably register in the nearest Testing Center. However, the Test Registration Officer (TRO) may conduct registration activities upon request of and agreement with the Local DECS Officials on prearranged schedule anywhere outside of the Testing Center, i.e. barangay halls, multipurpose centers, churches and others. This is being done as experience has shown that some prospective registrants found it difficult to have access to the registration centers because of geographical location. However, the Test Registration Officer should conduct registration in the school serving as the Registration Center on the last two days of the registration period, i.e., 29 and 30 May. Travel expenses of the Test Registration Officer (TRO) in this regard will be reimbursed through the Philippines Nonformal Education Project funds subject to existing COA and auditing rules and regulations. The Test Registration Officer must observe strict screening procedures to see to it that only those who are qualified will register. Those who have participated in the NFE A&E LSDS shall be encouraged to register, as findings of the previous NFE A&E Tests indicate that a high percentage of the NFE A&E Tests passers were LSDS learners.

17.  The Test Registration Forms should not be distributed to Service Providers nor to the Instructional Managers or any other unauthorized personnel. Only the Test Registration Officers (TROs) are authorized to register prospective examinees.

18.  Service Credit

       The District NFE Coordinators/duly designated teachers acting as Test Registration Officers who will register applicants in the evenings and on Saturdays and Sundays during the registration period will be granted one day service credit for every eight (8) hour actual service rendered as verified by the school head upon presentation of a duly accomplished Form 48. The duly accomplished Form 48 shall be submitted to the Schools Division Superintendent for the grant of the service credit.

20.  Any breach of security and any violation of policies governing the administration of the NFE A&E Tests, such as allowing nonqualified persons to register and take the test, reading of the test booklets by persons other than the qualified examinees, photocopying of the test booklets, supplying answers to the test questions to the examinees and other related acts will be dealt with accordingly in accordance with the provisions of DECS Order No. 85, s. 1999.

21.  Immediate and wide dissemination of the contents of this Order to all concerned is desired.