TESDA steps up skills training in rural communities

16 September 2013

Within the far-flung and small villages of Davao City and Davao del Sur, skills training is a preoccupation to many of the youth.

Community-based training programs of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in these areas ensure that people who are either out of school or those who want to learn additional skills are served by the government, according to Secretary Joel Villanueva, TESDA director general.

With a P1 million funding from the agency, TESDA-Davao has started the training of the first batch of the 2,000 beneficiaries under the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP).

"This initiative is laser-focused in giving the rural folk access to  technical vocational education and training. Education may be their road out of poverty," Villanueva said.

The selected beneficiaries will train for free and may enrol in any of the following courses: welding, plumbing, carpentry, construction, painting, masonry, refrigeration and air-conditioning, computer hardware servicing, food processing, domestic appliances repair,b dressmaking, cellphone repair, commercial cooking, baking and pastry  production, vermiculture, hog raising, organic farming.

The training will be conducted from September to October in the communities bringing education and training in the doorsteps.  TESDA institutions involved are Wangan National Agricultural School and Carmelo Delos Cientos Sr. National Trade School, Korea-Philippines Vocational Training Center and TESDA Davao Provincial Training Center.
 
The training programs employ the asset-based programming. These are directed to whatever assets the participants or communities have such as small parcels of land so that the participants could apply their skills in possible entrepreneurial endeavors.
 
Villanueva acknowledged the help of local government units that are also on board in implementing the training program, as well as private organizations such as the St. Francis of Assissi of Maa Parish through its Gagmay nga Kristohanong Katilingban (GKK) and the Parish Cooperative that will nurture and eventually extend financial access to the small entrepreneurs.

"With skilled people ready to take on jobs or start businesses, communities in the provinces can be growth hubs as well," he said.
 
TESDA pursues interventions that are aimed at two-pronged objectives of empowerment and rural employment generation through rural development.