The government has set aside P80 million under the approved 2025 national budget, which can be used to fund a scholarship program for child development workers (CDWs) in the country.

In a statement Monday, Senate Committee on Basic Education chairperson Senator Win Gatchalian welcomed the special provision in the budget allowing the scholarship to be taken by qualified beneficiaries under the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority's (TESDA) Promotion, Development, and Implementation of Quality Technical Education and Skills Development Programs.

Under this special provision, the scholarship program shall prioritize incumbent CDWs whose highest educational attainment is a high school diploma or lower.

To implement the scholarship program, TESDA and the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Council shall jointly develop guidelines.

Out of 68,080 CDWs nationwide, only 11,414 completed secondary education.

The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) estimates that the scholarship program can help around 2,854 of these CDWs enhance their professional capabilities.

“Through this scholarship funding allotted for the child development workers, we can now support their upskilling and reskilling. It is a crucial step to help our CDWs become more efficient in fulfilling their duties,” Gatchalian, who chairs the EDCOM II, said.

Gatchalian previously proposed, authored, and sponsored the enactment of the Early Childhood Care and Development Alignment Act or Senate Bill 2575, which seeks to achieve universal access to early childhood education, and pushed for the upskilling and reskilling of CDWs.

Under the proposed measure, incumbent CDWs shall complete mandatory upskilling and reskilling training programs on early childhood education or ECCD.

Scholars should also pass a certification from TESDA, which shall provide the assessment and certification free of charge.