August 31, 1999 – DO 92, s. 1999 – November 1999 Nonformal Education Accreditation and Equivalency (NFE A&E) Tests
August 31, 1999
DO 92, s. 1999
November 1999 Nonformal Education Accreditation and Equivalency (NFE A&E) Tests
To:   Undersecretaries
Assistant: Secretaries
Regional, Bureau and Center Directors
Schools Division Superintendents
Heads of Private Schools
1.   The November 1999 Nonformal Education Accreditation and Equivalency (NFE A&E) Test will be administered in approved designated Testing Centers on November 2 / (Elementary Level) and November 28 (Secondary Level), 1999 to qualified residents ill the approved sites of the ADB-assisted Philippines Nonformal Education Project in the following Regions:
  • National Capital Region – all schools divisions
  • Region V – Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon
  • Region VII – Cebu City, Lapulapu City and Mandaue City
  • Region XII – North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat
2.   The prospective NFE A&E registrants/examinees are Out-of-School Filipinos aged 15 years and above (as of November 27 for elementary and November 28, 1999 for secondary) who are basically literate or have completed the Functional Education and Literacy Program (FELP).
3.   The NFE A&E Tests are open to prospective examinees from either of the following categories:
  •  Learners who have attended or are attending learning sessions conducted by Service Providers contracted under the NFE A&E System, or
  • Qualified individuals who have not enrolled nor attended the NFE A&E learning sessions but have been found to be qualified to take the tests after undergoing the screening process to be conducted by the Test Registration Officer assigned in the Registration Center. (Refer to Inclosure No. 1)
Those who have met the abovementioned qualifications will be allowed to register upon presentation of two copies of recent “l x 1” photographs (taken within twelve months) and any authentic proof of identification as listed in Inclosure No. 1. Applicants without photographs and authentic proof of identification will not be registered.
4.   There will be two levels of the  NFE A&E Test – Elementary Level (approximately 3 1/2 hours) and Secondary Level (approximately 4 hours) which are paper and pencil-based tests with multiple choice type questions based on the skills and competencies detailed in the NFE A&E Curriculum Framework.
5.   The NFE A&E 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 test 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 that if they fail to pass the Secondary Level Test, they will not receive any certificate. Prospective 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.
6.   The Registration Period for the NFE A&E Tests starts on September 6 and ends on October 19, 1999. There will absolutely be no extension of the Registration Period to provide time for processing of the forms and packaging of test materials.
7.   There will absolutely be no change in the dates of the NFE A&E Tests.
 8.   DECS, through the Bureau of  Nonformal Education (BNFE), has contracted the Center for Educational Measurement (CEM) to undertake the development and administration of the NFE A&E Tests and processing of the test results.
 9.   The Bureau of Nonformal Education (BNFE), in coordination With the Center for Educational Measurement (CEM), the Regional Offices and Schools Divisions still 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. The National Educational Testing and Research Center (NETRC) shall assist in the monitoring of the test administration.
 10.   BNHE Staff will be assigned to the approved designated Registration Centers from October 20 to 22, 1999 to check the registration forms and to assist in the preparation of     the final list of qualified examinees who have submitted all the requirements. The    original Test Illustration forms will be brought by the BNFE staff to the Bureau.
 11.   The Test Registration Officer shall prepare the list of qualified examinees in four (4) copies two of which will be given to the Division NFE Supervisor and Testing Center Administrator. The original and second copies will be brought by the BNFE staff for reference of the Bureau and CEM. No other name shall be added to this final list nor will anyone whose name is not found in the list be allowed to take the test.
12.   The Test Registration Centers are public or private elementary or high schools with are designated 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 with written approval of the Undersecretary for Programs and Projects or the Director IV of the BNFE.
13.   No fee shall be paid by the test registrants/examinees.
14.   The BNFE and CEM officials shall conduct an Orientation on the NFE; A&E: Test Administration for Regional and Assistant Regional Directors, Schools Division Superintendents, Assistant Schools Division Superintendents in charge of NFE, Regional NFE Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs and NFE Division Supervisors of the aforementioned sites two weeks before the Test in the following venues:
  • National Capital Region               – Manila
  • Region V                                    – Legazpi City
  • Region VII                                  – Cebu City
  • Region XII                                  – Cotabato City
15.   Two days before the Test, an Orientation will be conducted in the Division Level for the Test Center Administrators, Examiners and Proctors and other concerned staff on the Conduct of the NFE A&E Test and the use of the Examiner’s Manual for lest Administration.
16.   Attached are the following Inclosures:
No. 1         –     Registration Procedures at the Designated NFE A&E Test Centers
No. 2         –     Guidelines on the Administration of the NFE A&E Test
No. 3-A      –     NFE A&E Test Registration Form (Elementary Level)
No. 3-B      –     NFE A&E Test Registration Form (Secondary Level)
No. 4         –     DECS Order No, 85, s. 1999
17.   Provisions stated in the NFE A&E Manual of Operations and other DECS Orders which are contrary to the provisions of this Order are hereby rescinded.
18.   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 the test booklets, supplying answers to the rest questions to the examinees and other related acts will be dealt with accordingly (Refer to DECS Order No. 85, s. 1999).
19.   Immediate and wide dissemination of the contents of this Order to all concerned is desired.
ANDREW GONZALES, FSC
Secretary
Incls.: As stated
References:     DECS Order Nos. 22, 40 and 43 s. 1999
DECS Order No. 85 1999
Allotment:       1—(D.O. 50-97)
To be indicated in the Perpetual Index
Under the following subjects:
ACCREDITATION
NONFORMAL EDUCATION
EQUIVALENCY TEST
POLICY
EXAMINATION