08 June 2014
Former scholars of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of lawmakers may turn to technical vocational education and training (tech-voc) being offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to continue their studies.
"If not college, then there is tech-voc education," Secretary Joel Villanueva, TESDA Director General, said.
Villanueva acknowledged the hardship that the scholars have to go through in finding means to pursue their studies after the financial assistance from the PDAF was cut.
"It should not spell the end of their dreams because there is a window of fresh opportunity in tech-voc education," he added.
When the Supreme Court declared the PDAF unconstitutional last year, the fate of thousands of scholars benefiting from the fund was put in peril. Several lawmakers said that the PDAF beneficiaries, including the scholars, have become the collateral damage to the abolition of the pork barrel.
This school year, the lawmakers said they were not certain how many of their scholars would be absorbed by the Commission on Higher Education, which receives a portion of the budget originally allocated to PDAF.
TESDA has two main scholarship programs open to all applicants, namely, the Training for Work Scholarship Program and the Private Education Student Fund Assistance.
One of its new programs, Special Training for Employment Program (STEP), also offers skills training that will address the specific skills needs of the communities and promote employment, particularly through entrepreneurship, self-employment, and service-oriented activities.
Villanueva said that students, especially those affected by the PDAF cut, should be prepared to take a diversification of routes from college to tech-voc.
He said that TESDA and all its offices all over the country and accredited technical vocational institutions offer a variety of courses, many of which have high demands for employment locally and abroad.
"Tech-voc is a pathway, too, to rewarding careers or employment opportunities," he said. “It involves more hands-on and practical exercises and the route to a good job is shorter."
Scholars who finish their course also get financial assistance to undergo competency assessment, which is a requirement before they graduate. Passers are awarded the TESDA National Certificate that guarantees their possession of the required skills.
Aside from its two scholarship programs, TESDA has been successfully drawing students for its other endeavors such as the Online Program, Mobile Training Bus Plus and other programs in partnership with the private sector.
TESDA also holds regular job fairs nationwide to link its graduates with potential employers.
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