By Edd K. Usman
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) is looking for more beneficiaries who want to upgrade their skills through the agency?s internet-based scholarship program.
This is contained in the agency?s plans as Tesda director-general Guiling Mamondiong outlined last week Tesda’s new 14-point Reform and Development Agenda.
In line with the digital age, he said, Tesda will also establish a global online database for its graduates so employers would be able to access it and determine who among the graduates they can employ.
He announced during a press conference at the Tesda head office in Bicutan, Taguig City, the agency’s programs for expanded and equal access to technical education (tech-voc) education and training (TVET).
“Online application for scholarship is already available,” he said. “We are scaling this up to reach more trainees.”
Latest figures from the agency?s Public Information Unit (PIU) showed the Tesda Online Program (TOP) as of September 2, 2016 with its 43 courseware offerings had registered 871,408 users; garnered 34,055,473 page views; and lured 2,853,739 visitors.
Under Mamondiong?s leadership, Tesda is introducing the 14-point agenda, covered by the following programs:
1. Barangay-based Scholarship Program;
2. Online Scholarship Program;
3. Technical Audit of TVET Schools and Programs;
4. Skills Training for Drug Dependents;
5. Skills Training for Entrepreneurs and Family Enterprises;
6. Skills Training Program for Inmates and Families;
7. Inclusive Training Program for Women;
8. Continuing Program for Tesda’s Alumni;
9. Global Access to Online Database of TVET Graduates and Certified Workers;
10. Linkages with Agro-Industry;
11. Linkages with State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs);
12. Linkages with Foreign Skills and Training Institutions;
13. Transparency; and,
14. Moral Renewal
The Tesda chief cited the importance of the agency’s TVET programs as a vehicle for uplifting the lives of Filipinos.
“We are confident that these programs will help empower our people to become productive members of society. These will give them the opportunity through skills training that can either help them start a career or a new business venture,” said Mamondiong, who left after the press briefing for Mecca, Saudi Arabia to lead the Philippine Hajj Mission for this year’s pilgrimage.
He pointed to the barangay-based training program as one of the most important of the 14-point agenda, saying this marks a shift in how Tesda scholarships will be downloaded to the people nationwide.
In the past, he said its scholarship programs were largely dependent on Tesda-accredited Tech-Voc Institutions (TVIs).
Tesda has already sent letters to the heads of barangay (village) of the country’s 42,000 barangays to seek data on what training programs they needed most in their respective communities.
