20 July 2013
Substantial spending and implementation of more relevant policies and programs have helped pushed technical vocational education and training (TVET) to a new height under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III, Secretary Joel Villanueva said.
From 2010 to 2012, a total of 4,807,585 students have enrolled in various TVET courses across the country as the government poured in substantial allocation for training scholarships, tools and equipment, training materials, capacity enhancement of trainers and facilities improvement.
With the continuous backing of the President, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will not just produce the big number of graduates, but skilled individuals who are employable.
"The thorny part lies in bridging the gap between training and employment," Villanueva, TESDA director general said. "We can't have graduates carrying certificates but who remain idle and unable to make income for himself and his family."
"TVET should adhere to the Aquino administration's goal of being one of the interventions that would help alleviate poverty and become the vehicle to achieve inclusive growth," he said.
For 2013, TESDA received a budget of P2.971 billion, of which P900 million was allocated for scholarship vouchers under its two flagship programs: Training for Work Scholarship Program and Private Education Student Financial Assistance.
Fresh policy initiatives were also set in place, such as the signing by the President of Executive Order No. 83, which institutionalizes the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF).
The full implementation of PQF will pave the way for the harmonization of education and training qualifications in the country and ensure that standards and qualifications are consistent to job requirements.
With the implementation of the K -12 education curriculum, policies, standards guidelines and training regulations are also being aligned towards the new curriculum. TVET will take center stage in the K to 12 curriculum as students will be given the option to develop their technical-vocational skills before entering college.
TESDA has so far completed the development of curriculum guides, learning modules and teachers guide in Exploratory Grades 7 and 8 for 23 Qualifications for the following: Automotive Servicing; Mechanical Drafting; Computer Hardware Servicing; Horticulture; Shielded Metal Arc Welding; Consumer Electronics Servicing; Aqua Culture; Dressmaking /Tailoring; Masonry; Caregiving; Household Services; Plumbing; Agri Crop Production' Fish Capture; Handicraft; Carpentry; RAC Servicing (DomRac); Electrical Installation and Maintenance; Bread And Pastry; Tile Setting; Animal Production; Food (Fish) Processing; Beauty Care (Nail Care Services).
TESDA has continuously embarked on innovative programs to attract more people to get into TVET, make it more accessible to its clients, and link graduates to employment opportunities. The agency has developed the TESDA Online Program (TOP); Mobile Training plus (Park and Train); P-Noy Bayanihan Project; TESDA App; Cash for Training Project (C4TP); TESDA Technopreneurship Specialista Program; and Jobs Bridging Program.
Recently, TESDA has passed the surveillance audit for its ISO 9001:2008 certification and has expanded the coverage in line with its commitment to quality and excellence.
TESDA has also strengthened its partnership with private partners and foreign institutions to boost TVET such as with the Middle East Industrial Training Institute (MEITI); Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP), and Petron Foundation, Inc.; BJMP and Informatics; World Vision-Isuzu Motors; Autodesk; Knowledge Channel Foundation; Robinsons Malls Inc.; Coca Cola Bottlers Philippines; Korea International Cooperation Agency; International Labour Organization, Asian Development Bank, and TESDA-ITE Education Services of Singapore.
"We've got to lift TVET in this country. We've got to get our graduates succeed in this economy. We will put TVET within reach for anybody who's willing to work for it," Villanueva said.
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