CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — “We are now innovating and upskilling. We are now providing the higher-level qualifications,” said Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-10 Assistant Regional Director Marigold Cherie R. Garrido, in an episode of Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on December 17.
TESDA-10 is now requiring technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions to offer national certifications 3, 4, and 5. “We want to ensure that there will be employment of our graduates and to be responsive to new technologies. That is why we are now adopting flexible learning; we have a TESDA online program, Garrido said.
Meanwhile, there needs to be behavior and mindset change. “We want that mindset to change, to change public perception that TESDA is a second-rate education. We want to change that TESDA is the only way to get to jobs, to get employment,” she said.
In fact, TESDA graduates will be exposed to international standards through TESDA’s global competitiveness program.
As part of its standards development, TESDA has collaborated with the industries. “Our TVET provision would be quality; bawal sa amo ang mga bukot-bukot nga mga eskwelahan or mga assessment centers (we do not accept “so-so” schools or assessment centers),” Garrido said, this in line with TESDA’s adoption of ISO 9001-2015 through Quality Management System (QMS), ensuring that certain standards are followed for certification and assessment.
According to Garrido, the industry requires demand-driven TVET frameworks, which are area-based and developed through industry consultation.
“We were able to identify priority sectors along agriculture, health, tourism, manufacturing, transportation and logistics, ICT & IT-BPM, education, creative industries, energy, and construction. Meaning this will be our focus, meaning if there will be funding for the scholarship, these are the priority sectors to fund and invest in. The industry said, “We need more workers in these sectors,” she said.
TESDA offers free training, free assessment, and free allowance depending on the scholarship program. Target beneficiaries include overseas Filipino workers, those not in education, employment, or training; target clients of barangay development programs; workers, especially in MSMEs (upskilling and retooling); marginalized individuals; and displaced workers/affected individuals due to calamities/disasters.
TESDA ensures a clear pathway from training to employment, emphasizing that those who undergo training are prepared for available job opportunities, Garrido said. (JMOR/PIA-10)
