Gov says Agusan del Norte values technological education, training

By Robert E. Roperos

Thursday 21st of June 2012

BUTUAN CITY, June 21 (PIA) -- Agusan del Norte Governor Erlpe John Amante recently said the provincial government has always valued technological education and trainings and its contribution to society.

This developed after he reported that the province’s enrollment rate in public elementary and high schools have increased significantly, citing that the province is serious in implementing not only basic education and degree courses but also technical-vocational courses in tech-voc schools in the province and in this city.

Gov. Amante said persons provided with technical and vocational education and training reached 7,084 in 2011 up from 5,433 in 2010.

The official said the scholarship program through Training or Work Scholarship Program was also able to serve 1,084 scholars in 2011 increasing their number by 201.

He added from 6,079 in 2010 to 7,353 in 2011, an increasing number of trainees were assessed, and out of these trainees, 4,985 passed and were given national certifications. “This means that their skills are now duly certified nationwide,” Amante said.

The provincial governor also reported that in 2011, 26 graduates got employed contributing to the overall number of 5,550 Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) graduates who got employed.

“Among these graduates were those produced by the Las Nieves Training Center at Barangay Mat-I… from a handful 18 in 2010, they numbered 113 trainees in 2011 specializing in Shielded Metal Arc Welding and Food and Beverage Services,” Amante said.

The official added competency rates have also improved from 61 percent in 2010 to 81 percent in 2011.

Meanwhile, Gov. Amante said the provincial training center in Cabadbaran City has also produced a growing number of TVET graduates from 312 in 2010 to 324 in 2011.

He added that certification rates for the National Competency Assessment have likewise been increasing from 94 percent in 2010 to 98 percent in 2011. “So was the number of high school graduates and out-of-school youths who were provided with the scholarships, and a total of 215 TVET graduates from the center have already found employment,” Amante said.

Gov. Amante also emphasized that as a complement scheme, the provincial government has granted 50 scholarships to qualified students under the Provincial Technical Scholarship Program. The two-year program covers financial support of P7,500 per scholar per semester.

The official further said the provincial government has implemented a full-course scholarship program specifically designed for the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) of Agusan del Norte. “As of 2011, 10 IP scholars have been awarded P50,000 scholarship grant per semester,” Amante said. (RER – PIA 13 Caraga)