The Mandaluyong Manpower and Technical Vocational Training Center (MMTVTC) holds graduation rites for some 431 students of technical and vocational courses held at the Kaban ng Hiyas in Mandaluyong City on March 9. (PIA NCR file photo)
MANILA, (PIA) — National certification is assured for over 420,000 Grade 12 students in the Technical-Vocational and Livelihood (TVL) track under the 2024 national budget signed this week, Senator Win Gatchalian said Wednesday.
The 2024 General Appropriations Act allocates P438.16 million for the assessment and certification of TVL students to boost their employability.
Another 50 million pesos will expand the pool of assessors at the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to nearly 19,000 by the end-2024.
“Next year, our TVL track senior high school graduates will have a greater chance of getting good jobs because the government will fund their assessment and certification,” said Gatchalian, chair of the Senate Basic Education Committee.
The TVL track provides students with subjects focused on job-ready skills. It offers practical knowledge and exposure for students to earn National Certificates (NCs) to help them land their desired job after they graduate from senior high school.
Fewer than 30 percent of senior high school graduates have certifications currently, as most cannot afford the cost of assessments.
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Data shared by Gatchalian’s office shows 50 percent of TVL graduates are employed in entry-level jobs like street vending and domestic work.
To implement the certification program, the Department of Education and TESDA will develop operational guidelines.
The aim is to improve career prospects for senior high school students gaining vocational skills training. (PIA-NCR)
