What You Need to Know About the Updated Guidelines for the National Qualifying Examination for School Heads
If you are an aspiring school head in the Philippines, you may be interested in taking the National Qualifying Examination for School Heads (NQESH), which is a standardized test that assesses your competencies and readiness for the position. The Department of Education (DepEd) recently issued a memorandum that contains some corrections and clarifications to the previous guidelines for the NQESH. Here are the main points that you need to know:
Qualification Requirements
The qualification requirements for the NQESH remain the same as stated in DepEd Order No. 39, s. 2007 and DepEd Order No. 41, s. 2016. You are eligible to apply as a taker of the NQESH if you meet the following criteria as of February 29, 2024:
- You are an aspiring school head, regardless of your current position.
- You have at least one year of experience as a Head Teacher, or two years of experience as a Master Teacher or a Teacher-in-Charge, or five years of teaching experience as a Teacher III or equivalent, or a combination of these experiences.
- You have managerial and supervisory experience in a DepEd-recognized private institution or a CHED-recognized higher education institution, if applicable.
- You are an Assistant School Principal with an issued appointment without NQESH eligibility.
Online Application Process
The online application process for the NQESH has been revised to make it more accessible and user-friendly. You can access the NQESH Online Application System (NQESH-OAS) through this link: https://bit.ly/FY2023NQESHApplicantResources. You will need to create an account, fill out the online application form, upload the required documents, and submit your application. You will also receive a confirmation email and a reference number after completing the process. You can use the NQESH-OAS Applicant User Guide for more detailed instructions and troubleshooting tips.
Examination Schedule and Coverage
The NQESH is scheduled to be administered on April 25, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in designated testing centers nationwide. You will be notified of your testing venue and room assignment through email or text message at least one week before the examination date. You will need to bring your valid ID, reference number, and other necessary materials on the day of the examination.
The NQESH will cover the following domains and competencies:
- School Leadership
- Instructional Leadership
- Creating a Learning Environment
- Human Resource Management and Professional Development
- Parent Involvement and Community Partnership
- School Management and Operations
- Personal and Professional Attributes and Interpersonal Effectiveness
The NQESH will consist of 170 multiple-choice items with four options each. You will have four hours to complete the test. The passing score for the NQESH is 70%.
Special Cases for FY 2021 NQESH Takers
If you took the NQESH in Fiscal Year 2021, you may belong to one of the following categories:
- Category A: You passed the NQESH and received your Certificate of Eligibility. You do not need to take the examination again. You can apply for the position of School Head as soon as there is a vacancy in your division or region.
- Category B: You did not pass the NQESH but you scored between 65% and 69%. You will not take the examination again. Instead, you will undergo coaching and mentoring sessions by the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP). After completing these sessions, you will be evaluated and certified by the NEAP as eligible for the position of School Head.
- Category C: You did not pass the NQESH and you scored below 65%. You are not allowed to take the test this year. You are encouraged to undergo professional development intervention to improve your competencies and readiness for the position of School Head. You can apply for the NQESH again in the next fiscal year.
The NEAP will issue a separate guideline for the coaching and mentoring sessions and the evaluation and certification process for Category B takers.
Contact Information
If you have any questions or concerns about the NQESH, you can contact the Bureau of Human Resource and Organizational Development-Human Resource Development Division, 4th Floor, Mabini Building, Department of Education Central Office, DepEd Complex, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City through email at bhrod.hrdd@deped.gov.ph.
We hope that this blog post has been informative and helpful for you. We wish you all the best in your journey to becoming a school head. Good luck and God bless!