MANILA – The Department of Education (DepEd) said that 23,994 aspiring school leaders participated in the 2025 National Assessment for School Heads (NASH) Batch 2 conducted nationwide.

The assessment was administered across 65 testing sites on May 17.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the initiative aligns with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to strengthen leadership in the country’s basic education system.

“This assessment aims to strengthen school leadership capacity and expand the pool of qualified and eligible candidates for school principal positions,” Angara said.

DepEd said the NASH is designed to enhance school leadership capacity while expanding the number of qualified candidates for school administration posts.

It also evaluates the readiness of aspiring school heads based on the Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads (PPSSH) and identifies competency gaps for targeted training and leadership development programs.

“It is consistent with our reform direction toward the vision of ‘One School, One School Principal,’” Angara said.

To ensure proper implementation, 132 Central Office monitors were deployed along with members of the NASH Technical Working Group, including regional monitors and Schools Division focal persons who served as facilitators and technical officers across all 17 regions.

The Department of Education also conducted a nationwide mock assessment on May 10 to prepare examinees, test device compatibility, and assess system readiness before the actual examination.