Mamondiong vows expanded services for marginalized sector
27 July 2016
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in a press conference held today, July 27, unveiled its long term plans for thwarting poverty by increasing the marginalized sector’s access to technical vocational education and training (TVET).
“We will seek out those who have been neglected and have experienced little or no attention from the government, introduce them to skills training, and help them realize their potential to be productive members of society,” says TESDA Director General, Secretary Guiling “Gene” Mamondiong.
Through the “Two-pronged strategy of TESDA in Poverty Reduction” focusing on a twin approach of TVET for Global Competitiveness and TVET for Social Equity, the government agency largely known for setting training standards in the country and producing globally competitive workers through quality training, plans to offer more training services to urban & rural poor, farmers, fisher folks, indigenous people (IPs), women, rebel returnees/combatants, drug dependents, repatriated OFWs, out-of-school youths (OSYs), micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), family enterprises, and local government units (CTECs).
“On the one hand we have our industry-led and widely recognized programs and services which we will continue to offer and advocate. On the other hand, we will make more of these services available to those who need them the most,” explains the TESDA chief.
Aside from the training given by more than 4,000 TVET providers in the country, TESDA plans to bolster its training efforts using approaches such as community-based training, expanded scholarships, Mobile Training Program, TESDA Online Program, Barangay Empowerment thru TVET, CMUs (Compact Mobile Units) and Onsite Training and Assessment.
Mamondiong also shared TESDA’s 12-point Reform and Development Agenda for the next six years and beyond which includes: Technical Audit; Linkages with Government Schools and Training Institutions; Drug Dependents Training Program; Barangay Skills Training Program; Moral Renewal Program; Linkages with Foreign Skills Training Institutions; Global Access to List of TVET Graduates and Certified Workers; Continuing Program for TESDA’s Alumni; Expanded Training Program for Women; Special Skills Training for Individual and Family Enterprises; Establishment of On-line Scholarship Application and; Transparency.
According to Mamondiong, the 12-point agenda would serve as the framework on which programs designed specifically for expanded access to TVET by the identified groups would be implemented. Further, Secretary Mamondiong admitted that the planned steps would require very close coordination with relevant government agencies (such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Agriculture, Philippine National Police among others), local government units, social organizations and private training centers.
“This administration’s urgent call for crime and poverty reduction, and nationalistic values renewal is one that should be heeded by the entire country as issues regarding these affects us all. TESDA intends to do its part, so expect to see more and more of us in the coming days because through TVET we plan to reach even the most isolated communities in the archipelago,” added the Secretary.
The press conference comes in the wake of an earlier announcement by Secretary Mamondiong that TESDA will be opening its doors to reforming drug dealers and pushers, and the Agency’s recent partnership with the Mindanao State University System to offer more TVET programs in Southern Philippines.
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