October 23, 2017

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General, Secretary Guiling “Gene” Mamondiong has recommended to the Global Education Supplies and Solutions (GESS) Conference the creation of a development council which will strengthen the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) among member-countries of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Mamondiong, who was the keynote speaker at the 3rd Edition of the GESS Exhibition and Conference held at the Jakarta Convention Center in Indonesia recently, said that the ASEAN TVET Development Council will assist the ASEAN members in improving their technical-vocational program.

“The council is geared towards an improved workforce competitiveness, market-response workforce skills, enhanced productivity, and increased employability by facilitating closer coordination among ASEAN TVET Agencies," said Mamondiong in his speech.

The 3rd Edition of the GESS Exhibition and Conference held from Sept. 27-29 was supported by the Ministry of Education and Culture; Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education; Ministry of Religious Affairs at Jakarta Education Board.

Aside from Mamondiong, Indonesian officials who attended the conference were Catur Luswanto, Javier Luque, M. Zein, Ananto Kusuma Seta, Sylviana Murni, Armain Arief, Ali Gufron, Jumain Ape, Peter Massey and other representatives from ASEAN members.

Mamondiong said that President Rodrigo Duterte has brought TVET programs closer to the poor.

“We are bringing TVET programs closer, to those who need them most-the poor and the marginalized. We see to it that our programs are accessible to all our target beneficiaries, from the urban areas to the smallest and most remote communities," Mamondiong said.