On May 17, 2023, the Department of Education (DepEd) in the Philippines successfully administered the National Assessment for School Heads (NASH), involving 23,994 aspiring school leaders across 65 testing sites nationwide. This initiative is part of DepEd's ongoing education reform efforts to ensure a steady pipeline of qualified school principals. Education Secretary Sonny Angara stated that the assessment aims to enhance school leadership capacity and expand the pool of eligible candidates, aligning with the vision of 'One School, One School Principal.'

The NASH program is designed to assess leadership readiness based on the Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads (PPSSH), helping to identify competency gaps for targeted training and development. To ensure a smooth process, DepEd deployed 132 Central Office monitors and regional facilitators across all 17 regions. A mock examination was held on May 10 to prepare participants and verify system readiness.

Despite these efforts, data from DepEd indicates that as of 2024, only 20,718 out of 45,918 public schools—approximately 45 percent—had principals who passed the qualifying exams, highlighting the ongoing need for effective school leadership development.