MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) have signed an agreement to establish a unified and interoperable data system to track Filipino learners throughout their education journey.

The agreement, signed during the first Joint Management Committee Meeting of the three agencies, seeks to address the long-standing issue of fragmented information systems across basic, higher, and technical-vocational education. Previously, each agency maintained separate databases, such as DepEd’s Learner Reference Number (LRN) and TESDA’s Unique Learner Identifier (ULI), making it difficult to follow a learner’s full pathway.

“For too long, our view of a student’s journey has been fragmented. We are finally seeing the complete picture—from their first day in kindergarten to their entry into the workforce,” Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara said. He emphasized that the initiative fulfills a key recommendation of the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2).

TESDA Director General Jose Francisco “Kiko” Benitez described the agreement as a “game-changer” that will help bridge education and employment. “By understanding a learner’s background, we can better guide them into technical-vocational tracks that lead directly to in-demand jobs,” he said.

CHED Chairperson Shirley C. Agrupis highlighted its importance for higher education planning, noting that the unified system will refine scholarship programs, improve enrolment projections for state universities and colleges (SUCs), and ensure degree offerings remain relevant.

The three agencies will harmonize data systems, with CHED and TESDA set to adopt DepEd’s LRN as the unique identifier for students in higher education. Coordination with other government bodies—including the DICT, DOLE, DSWD, and the Philippine Statistics Authority—will also be pursued to align the system with national development goals.

The unified data system will be piloted in 2026 and fully operational by 2027, supported by the Education Center for AI Research (ECAIR).

EDCOM 2 earlier underscored the importance of data convergence for evidence-based policy making, especially in addressing out-of-school youth, improving Alternative Learning System pathways, and targeting beneficiaries for programs such as 4Ps and the Bagong Pilipinas Merit Scholarship Program.