12 October 2011
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is hoping that by the end of 2016, a total of 8,487,070 persons would have been enrolled in various technical-vocational courses.
Of the number, the agency aims to have 7,715,610 students or 90 percent finishing their courses.
The targets were identified as part of the 3rd cycle of National Technical Education and Skills Development Plan (NTESDP) covering the period of 2011-2016 until the last year of the Aquino administration.
TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva said the development plan aims to provide alternative, yet relevant education, especially to those who could not afford to go to college.
“TVET will churn out the 21st century Filipino skilled workers, who are competent, employable, productive, and flexible to the changing requirements of the industry and the labor markets, locally and overseas,” Villanueva said.
The number of enrollees is projected to increase every year starting with 1.1 million in 2011; 1,210,000 in 2012; 1,331,000 in 2013; 1,464,000 in 2014; 1,610,510 in 2015; and, 1,771,560 in 2016.
Of the expected total number of graduates by the end of 2016, the agency projected that a total of 4, 629,366 or 60 percent of the 7,715,610 graduates would undergo assessment of their skills.
And out of those who would go through the assessment, a total of 3,993,227 are expected to be certified, representing a certification rate of between 85 to 87.5 percent.
This target, Villanueva said, could be easily achieved as TESDA continues to aggressively promote the assessment and certification program among its graduates and among workers, returning overseas Filipino workers and students.
From the number of certified workers who are also called “TESDA specialists,” the agency is also eyeing a 60.8 percent employment rate. With the big number of TVET enrollees, Villanueva said TESDA is faced with the challenge of regularly reviewing and enhancing the curricula to provide practical hands-on training complemented by a base of core academic knowledge.
“We are always looking for ways to improve technical vocational education and training to make it responsive to a changing labor market, and to ensure that it is helping to prepare young people to the next stage,” he said.
The TESDA chief said that as its clientele grows and requirements for infrastructure, training and other resources increase, it is important that the government boosts its investment to the TVET through increased appropriation.
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