27 May 2014
A fresh batch of Filipino nurses and caregivers under the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement (JPEPA) completed the Japanese language and culture training, a key element for a career jump-start in the foreign land.
A total of 186 Filipino candidates (36 nurses and 150 caregivers), which composed the 6th batch of trainees, were feted on May 27 at the closing ceremony of the Preparatory Japanese Language Training held at the Women's Center of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in Taguig City
Leading the event were officials of TESDA and top-level representatives from the Embassy of Japan.
The training was a collaboration of the governments of the Philippines, through TESDA, and Japan to contribute to the enhancement of a candidate's ability to adapt and settle in faster.
This will also assist the candidate nurses and caregivers in passing the Japanese Licensure Examinations after they enter and work in Japan.
"We have no doubt in the skills of our nurses and caregivers. But we have to admit that the Japanese language is the issue that they have to hurdle," Secretary Joel Villanueva, TESDA Director General, said.
Passing the national exam secures the prospect to work permanently in Japan as permanent nurses.
"Candidate nurses and caregivers who received proper backing and guidance such as language training would arguably have a better chance of succeeding," Villanueva said.
The training in the Philippines started on November 19, 2013 and ended last week. TESDA provided the venue and materials, while Japan sent in language instructors.
The candidates will leave for Japan in June 2014 and undergo another six months of Japanese language training there.
In his message at the start of the training, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Toshinao Urabe told the candidates to "make the best use of our help."
He said that the evaluation of the Japan Foundation showed that 83.8 percent of the 2012 batch have reached the equivalent of N4 Level proficiency by the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test standards after six months in training.
According to the JLPT website, the N4 level describes one's ability to understand basic Japanese. For reading, it means that one is able to read and understand passages on familiar daily topics written in basic vocabulary and kanji. For listening, it means that one is able to listen and comprehend conversations encountered in daily life and generally follow their contents, provided that they are spoken slowly.
"With the language skills training, our candidate nurses and caregivers who will soon leave their jobs and family back home and migrate to Japan will not be confronted with qualms and an insecure future," Villanueva said..
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