TESDA cites progress in TVET initiatives in Southeast Asia region

November 09, 2022

The Philippines, through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), has reported significant headways aimed at strengthening the technical vocational education and training (TVET) sector in the region.

During the 27th ASEAN Labour Ministers Meeting last Oct. 28, TESDA Director General Danilo P. Cruz highlighted the progress made by the ASEAN TVET Council (ATC) over the last two years of the Philippines’ Chairmanship of the Council.

“We recognize that these activities will help inspire new ideas and policy actions among our TVET leaders and policymakers, and support the operationalization of the ATC Work Plan moving forward,” he said.

DG Cruz added these activities conducted by the ATC are useful in the planned and future works of the Council.

The biennial Ministerial meeting, currently chaired by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), convenes labor ministers from the 10 ASEAN Member States and ASEAN+3 countries (China, Japan, and Korea) to discuss labor and employment plans and programs in the ASEAN region.

DG Cruz shared that in 2021, the ATC, then chaired by former TESDA Chief Isidro Lapeña, successfully convened the first ATC Meeting via video conference. The inaugural meeting set the tone for the development of the ATC work plan which will guide the future works of the Council.

Further, in June 2021, the Philippines hosted a two-day workshop on the development of the ATC Work Plan where the Council has come up with a more concrete plan in terms of the priority programs that they will pursue in the ATC.

Likewise, the Philippines and Vietnam last June 29-30 hosted the Regional Policy Dialogue with the theme “Regional Policy Dialogue on TVET Governance in the Era of Digitalization and Industry 4.0,” which focused on the important role of TVET governance in shaping a well-qualified workforce.

During the event, Deputy Director General for Policies and Planning Rosanna A. Urdaneta served as a plenary session panelist to provide expert inputs on TVET governance during the international conference.

Meanwhile, last September 24 to October 5, the ATC Study Tour on TVET Innovation and TVET Cooperation in Europe was also held. The activity was held as a way for the ATC members to learn and explore, particularly in this study trip, the adjustments of dual TVET systems of Germany to digitalization as well as reflect on the various practices of regional TVET cooperation in Europe.

The TESDA chief also disclosed that the second ATC meeting will be held in person on November 17-18 here in the Philippines. The meeting shall also highlight the turnover of the ATC Chairmanship to Singapore.

It can be recalled that the Philippines, through TESDA, assumed the inaugural chairmanship of ATC in March 2020.

The Council envisions achieving an advanced TVET towards competitive human resources; market-responsive workforce skills; greater employment opportunities locally and overseas; higher productivity in the digital economy and a human-centered future of work toward a resilient and innovative ASEAN community. (30)