TESDA touts 200, 000 scholars trained

CEBU, Philippines – Close to the 200,000 scholars have been trained while another 100,000 have been certified by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority within 100 days of its new leadership under director general Joel Villanueva.

The achievement is the product of the agency's struggle to dispel allegations of corruption that allegedly existed during the past administration. To prove that there is no such corruption, TESDA reported that it has conducted trainings to 181,433 land-based or sea-based scholars which is more than twice its 84, 200 target from July to September.

Some 30,960 have been trained in TESDA technical institutions, surpassing its 20,000 commitment.

Villanueva said TESDA was able to assess 115,117 applicants and certify 94,172.

The agency has forged partnerships with at least 22 industry and other sectoral groups in Information Communications Technology, construction, electronics, tourism, automotive, maritime, haircutting and cosmetology for the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) where products of TESDA trainings are given assurance of work after they graduate.

Reviews and refinements of the TWSP were conducted to ensure that targeted increase in absorption rate will be met in a well-planned and systematic manner.

Under Villanueva's headship, TESDA has also worked for the restoration of the P700-million budget of the agency that was earlier reduced to P350 million.

For the next six years, TESDA is strengthening the programs such as the Community-based Training in Enterprise Development, Community Emergency Employment Program, Technopreneurship Program, Philippine National Qualification Framework, Nationally-Synchronized Assessment and Manpower Skills Registry Program among others to meet its goal.

"The road to reform and progress might be long and winding but agency's goals for a 'Real Deal' technical and skills training and enhancement remain right on track," Villanueva assured.

With 'Real Deal' platform, he means that TESDA resolves to immediately double the absorption rate of Technical Vocational Education and Training graduates from the 28 percent baseline established by the Department of Budget and Management for TWSP scholars by the end of 2011 to 65 percent by 2016. To do this, the agency seeks to operationalize the TESDA Development Fund and encourage donors. They are now working to be ISO-certified under the ISO9001:2008 Standard.

"TESDA is positioning Technical Vocational Education and Training as a high priority area for investment of the Aquino administration. And so, we have identified priority intervention areas that we must address under the New TESDA's 'Real Deal' technical education and skills development (TESD) Stewardship Platform," Villanueva said. (FREEMAN)