1.         The Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) through the Bureau of NonFormal Education developed the Nonformal Education Accreditation and Equivalency System as an alternative means of certification of learning to those Filipinos aged 15 years and above who are unable to avail of the formal school system or who have dropped out of formal elementary or secondary school.

2.         The DECS is actively seeking formal agreements with other agencies, institutions and organizations offering post-secondary education system to articulate with the education programs of those institutions.  Once articulation agreements are in place, graduates of the NFE A & E System will thereby gain access to a range of continuing education, tertiary courses and vocational training programs once they exit the NFE and A & E System.

3.         To this end, the DECS has established linkage with the Meralco Foundation, Inc. and signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on October 2, 2000 with the following commitments:

3.1    That DECS and Meralco Foundation, Inc., will work to ensure articulation of their non-formal education learning systems across all levels of program implementation;

3.2    That as part of this articulation, NFE A&E Secondary Level Certificate holders will be accepted into the training programs of Meralco Foundation, Inc., subject to the usual screening processes, for enrollees drawn from the formal school system;

3.3    That DECS and Meralco Foundation, Inc. will work jointly to support efforts to institutionalize the Recognition of Prior Learning as a mechanism to improve access opportunities for poor and underserved Filipinos Out-of-School Youth (OSY) and adults to continuing education and vocational  training programs;

3.4    That DECS and Meralco Foundation, Inc. will coordinate closely with other education providers to support the development of national equivalency competency standards to provide multiple pathways of learning for Filipinos who are unable to avail of the educational opportunities of the formal school system;

3.5    The DECS and Meralco Foundation, Inc. will work jointly to strengthen the development, implementation and expansion of educational equivalency programs as part of the formation of a national alternative learning system incorporating nonformal and post-basic education; and

3.6    That Meralco Foundation, Inc. will consider to be a Service Provider in the implementation of the Learning Support Delivery System (LSDS) of the NFE A & E System.

4. The Non formal Education Accreditation and Equivalency (NFE A &E) test passers are qualified to enrol in Meralco Foundation Institute (MFI). With this agreement, many out-of-school-youth and adults can benefit from NFE A & E program and Meralco Foundation Inc. education and training programs to uplift their social and economic status through values internalization, the development of appropriate technologies and the formulation of sustainable enterprises, thus, will lead to gainful living and dignified way of life.

5.         Attached is a copy of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between DECS and Meralco Foundation, Inc. and the criteria/qualifications of the Meralco Foundation, Inc. Scholarship/Program.

6.         Immediate and wide dissemination of the contents of this Memorandum to all concerned is desired.

Adopted: 20 November 2000

(SGD.) ANDREW GONZALEZ, FSC
Secretary

Criteria/Qualifications for the Meralco Foundation, Inc. Scholarship Program

1.         Must be a Filipino Citizen
2.         Single : Not more than 22 years old (For 3 -year courses only.  This age requirement does not apply to those interested in short-term courses)
3.         From a family earning a total annual income of not more than P100,000.00 or a per capita income of not more than P18,000.
4.         Should pass the Admission Test, Interview and other screening procedures conducted by the Admission Committee.

For Three or more year courses, the following requirements must be submitted:

1.         2 pcs 2 x 2 ID Photo
2.         For Secondary Level NFE A & E Test Passers: Photocopy of NFE A & E Certificate
3.         Photocopy of the latest Income Tax Return ( ITR) of Parents or Guardian
4.         Recommendation letter from Service Provider/Instructional Manager
5.         Testing fee of P100.00, upon submission of duly accomplished Application Form

For Short-term courses, the following requirements must be submitted:

1.         Certificate of Good Moral Character from Barangay Captain.
2.         2 pcs. 2 x 2 ID Photo
2.         For Secondary Level NFE A & E Test Passers: Photocopy of NFE A & E Certificate
3.         Testing fee of P100.00, upon submission of duly accomplished Application Form