Photo by CHED.
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has partnered with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) for the deployment of students and personnel from higher education institutions who will provide technical support in the 2025 national and local elections.
The memorandum of agreement, signed on October 4, aims to utilize qualified students from Information Technology (IT) programs to enhance the electoral process’ efficiency and integrity.
Under the agreement, students and personnel will serve as manpower technical support personnel and certified coding specialist technicians during the elections.
CHED Chairman Prospero De Vera III has vouched for the skills of these students, adding that the agency continuously provides opportunities for upskilling and reskilling.
De Vera stressed that the students’ skills and knowledge “are up to date with new technologies, and they will be able to adapt to the pressures of the election process.”
“I guarantee the skills and competence of the people from our HEIs [higher education institutions] across the country,” he said.
CHED plans to mobilize its regional offices to identify HEIs with IT programs willing to assist during the elections.
Selected students will undergo training with Comelec to develop the necessary technical skills and familiarize themselves with the electoral process, as well as ensure that they will meet the highest standards of political neutrality.
Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia also welcomed the partnership, stating that academic institutions are essential for ensuring the integrity of the elections.
“By partnering with CHED and our higher education institutions, we ensure the credibility and integrity of the electoral process,” Garcia said.
The partnership between CHED and Comelec will remain in effect until the completion of next year’s elections.
