“We are the agency responsible for producing the necessary manpower that will drive not only the socio-economic prosperity of the country but also that of Asia and the global village.” – Sec. Mamondiong
During his presentation at the 2016 Education Summit held last November 3 and 4, TESDA Director General, Secretary Guiling “Gene” Mamondiong, discussed the many advantages of technical vocational education and training (TVET) and how it can contribute to national development.
Before an audience of about 500 from different government agencies and private organizations, Secretary Mamondiong said that TESDA’s main focus is on “improving the lives of regular citizens, especially the poor, through skills acquisition that are adaptive, responsive and quality conscious”.
“We want to give relevant and marketable education and training to our youth constituents from Batanes to Sulu, from North to South, across and through the vastness of our archipelago. The goal is 100% literacy and equal percentage of productivity. No person should be left behind in the millennial march towards progress,” said the TESDA Chief.
He explained TESDA’s new two-pronged strategy for global competitiveness and social equity, its 17-point agenda for the next 6 years, and the agency’s flagship program, “Barangay Kasanayan Para Sa Kabuhayan At Kapayapaan".
Mamondiong also said that the growing force of self-employment should not be undervalued and should be given just as much attention as OFWs in search of promotions and better-paying jobs by providing them with online and on-site skills training. He went on to point out TESDA’s intentions to address the needs of recovering drug addicts and rebel returnees, and that TVET would provide them with the tools to be integrated back to society.
Apart from Mamondiong, the heads of the country’s two other education agencies, Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones of the Department of Education, and Chairperson Patricia Licuanan of the Commission on Higher Eeducation were also present to impart their agenda for the education sector and the directions they have set for their respective departments during the first day of the Summit. It was also during the first day that the Development and Security Framework of the Philippine Development Plan was discussed along with other key issues.
On the second day of the 2016 Education Summit, workshops were conducted on K to 12 Curriculum and its Support System, Alternative Learning System and Equivalencies, and Human Resource and Management Issues in Education, among others.
The Summit also included as participants representatives from various organizations and companies such as Asian Development Bank, World Bank, United Nations Children's Fund Philippines, Smart Communications, Globe Telecom, Microsoft Philippines, Philippine Business for Education, Save the Children, Public Services Labor Independent Confederation (PSLINK), Action for Economic Reforms, Teach for the Philippines, Blog Watch, and Coalitions for Change.
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