24 May 2015
The Philippines was the site once again of a leadership training program of college principals from Bangladesh looking for ways to advance the delivery of technical vocational education in their country.
A total of 75 college principals from Bangladesh technical schools took part in the Skills Development Program (SDP) that focused on institutionalizing TVET (technical vocational education and training) systems and process in institutions; promoting, advancing and strengthening industry linkages; and, providing professional development to TVET experts.
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the government agency mandated to manage and promote TVET in the country, played host to the training, funded by the Asian Development Bank.
"As the ASEAN Economic Community comes into being this year, we are hearing the drumbeat for more career and technical education programs," TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva said.
"TESDA is full of good ideas that pan out in practice, and it is opening its doors for practitioners of tech-voc to see and experience," he added.
The training was conducted in three batches in May at the TESDA Women's Training Center in Taguig City. It featured a combination of lecture-discussions, visit to training institutions and industries and action planning.
The participants were given a sneak peak on competency-based training system, TVET Program registration and how to develop training regulations.
Villanueva said the country also showcased TESDA's linkages with the private sector thorough discussions on the building partnerships with industry and industry-academe partnership in TVET. This was highlighted by the visit to the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the National College of Science and Technology.
A lecture-discussion also focused on the training and professional development of tech-voc personnel and on the accreditation and certification of TVET training institutions.
"The Philippines and Bangladesh share the overarching goals of beating poverty by arming its people with employable skills, so they would find decent work and income. Quality tech-voc is the path we are taking," Villanueva said.
In 2014, top education officials of Bangladesh also spent one week in the country for training on TESDA's standards development, competency-based training and assessment and accreditation system.
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