Registration for equivalency tests ends Oct. 14

Two examinations for out-of-school youth who want to resume formal schooling will be conducted in November.

The Department of Education (DepEd) will hold the Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT), which is also open to those who want to accredit their literacy level for employment, on November 20 in Luzon and on November 27 in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Applicants may register in PEPT testing centers until October 14.

DepEd said eligible to take the annual examinations were dropouts from elementary or high school who had been out of school for at least a year, those who knew how to read and write even without formal schooling, and working nongraduates who wanted to have elementary or high school accreditation.

“PEPT aims to retrieve out-of-school youth and place them in the formal school system if they so desire,” said Education Secretary Armin Luistro.

“Through PEPT, we would also like to validate and accredit knowledge and skills in academic areas gained through informal and nonformal means,” Luistro said.

PEPT could pave the way for reentry into formal schooling, job training, employment and promotion, the secretary added.

Examinees may select the grade-level equivalency test they wish to take but they must be at least a year older than regular students in their chosen year.

For instance, those who wish to take Grade 1 PEPT must be at least 7 years old while those who want to pass Grade 6 PEPT must be at least 13 years old.

Elementary level examinees must review science, mathematics, Hekasi (heograpiya, kasaysayan at sibika), Filipino and English.

Exams for the high school level cover general science, elementary algebra, Philippine history (kasaysayan at pamahalaan ng Pilipinas), English I and Filipino I for first year; biology, intermediate algebra, Asian history (kasaysayan ng mga bansang Asyano), English II and Filipino II for second year; chemistry, geometry, world history (kasaysayan ng daigdig), English III and Filipino III for third year; and  physics, advance algebra, trigonometry, statistics, economics, English IV and Filipino IV for fourth year.

Passing grade is 75 percent.

An examination fee of P50 will be charged. Information on the PEPT is available in public schools.