Let ‘em diploma mills grind faster

So why shouldn’t the Philippines jump on the bandwagon and let work experience count toward a college degree? Why not indeed when France has been doing it since 2002. Germany and the United Kingdom, the latter with its “sandwich degrees,” have their own versions too. Even the United States offers “credit for prior learning” in some universities.

Being in good company seems to be the thinking behind the recently signed Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program Act, which allows Filipinos with at least five years of relevant work experience to earn a college degree without sitting through traditional classes.

The law’s proponents call it a game-changer, an equalizer that gives hardworking Filipinos a second chance at higher education. But is it? In theory, at least, it sounds like a no-brainer.

Why should a seasoned accountant with 20 years of experience be forced to go back to school just to get a degree that certifies what he already knows? Why should a journalist with decades in the field need a diploma to prove he can write? What do we make of the college drop-out billionaires?

But here’s the problem: For this to work in the Philippines, there must be ironclad quality control. And if history is any indication, that’s a very big “if.” Do we need to state what nearly everybody knows? That the Philippines has long struggled with the quality of its education system.

For example, a recent World Bank report found that more than 80 percent of Filipino students fell below minimum proficiency levels in reading, math, and science. The country was also at rock bottom in reading comprehension in the 2018 Program for International Student Assessment.

Also, even before the government decided to hand out degrees based on experience, Philippine diplomas have already been under scrutiny and, here, we are not just talking about those manufactured in the University of Recto Avenue.

Now, with this newfangled system, it’s easy to see how other countries might start looking at Philippine degrees — traditional and work-based alike — with even more suspicion. After all, if one person spent four years (and a small fortune) in college while another got the same diploma through a fast-track assessment of their work history, employers — especially those outside the Philippines — can be expected to start asking questions.

France’s Validation des Acquis de l’Expérience (VAE) system works because it is rigorous. Applicants prove their competencies through a demanding assessment process, often including written reports, interviews and even practical examinations. Germany’s Anrechnung beruflicher Kompetenzen follows a similar path, requiring strict evaluations before granting academic credit. The United Kingdom’s Accreditation of Prior Learning is limited to specific fields and relies on comprehensive reviews.

Will the Philippines implement the same level of scrutiny? Or will this law become yet another loophole for diploma mills to exploit? That’s not just paranoia — it’s a real concern. The country has a notorious problem with fraudulent degrees. In 2019, a senator exposed a network of fake diploma sellers offering “instant” college degrees for a fee. More recently, the now banned Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators have been found employing workers with questionable educational credentials.

Even legitimate universities have been accused of leniency in granting equivalency credits, even masterals and doctorates. Under the new law, if an institution — whether out of corruption, desperation for enrollment, or sheer inefficiency — fails to rigorously assess applicants, what’s to stop it from becoming a degree dispensary?

The law’s defenders will argue that it doesn’t make college degrees meaningless — it simply recognizes real-world experience. But let’s not kid ourselves: Not all work experience are created equal. A call center agent and a software engineer both spend years in the workforce, but does that mean they should both be fast-tracked into a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology?

And what happens when businesses, already skeptical of Philippine graduates, decide to maintain their hiring standards? Filipino professionals could find themselves at a disadvantage compared to peers from countries with stricter degree requirements. Education is supposed to be a great equalizer, but it only works when standards are maintained.

A degree isn’t just a piece of paper — it’s a certification of knowledge, discipline, and training. If the Philippines wants to remain competitive in the global job market, it must ensure that this law does not become a shortcut to unearned diplomas.