More Filipinos Availed of Technical-vocational Courses under P-Noy Administration—Baldoz

More Filipinos have chosen practical, in-demand, and well-paying technical-vocational courses from 2010 to 2015 as can be gleaned from the number of student-beneficiaries who have availed of the TESDA’s flagship Training for Work Scholarship Program, or TWSP, according to Labor and Employment Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz yesterday.

“Records of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) reveal that 936,326 student-beneficiaries enrolled in the TWSP from 2010-2015. Of this number, 843,127 student-beneficiaries graduated from the TWSP,” said Baldoz on the eve of President Benigno S. Aquino III’s sixth State of the Nation Address.

She said the employment rate of TWSP graduates for the years 2010 to 2013 averaged 67.7 percent. The survey to obtain the placement rate for TWSP graduates for 2014 is still ongoing.

Baldoz said all training programs provided by TESDA-accredited technical-vocational training institutions under the TWSP are registered to ensure that quality TVET provision is given to beneficiaries.

“The TWSP complements the DOLE’s employment facilitation mandate by raising the bar of skills of Filipino workers to make them globally and nationally competitive and productive,” said Baldoz, who chairs the TESDA board of trustees.

Under the present administration, the TWSP filled up the skills gaps and job requirements of priority industries and sectors with high employment demand, improving the reach of quality technical-vocation education and training to the grassroots, and encouraging technical-vocational institutions to offer programs in higher qualifications catering to in-demand industry requirements.

In the first semester of 2015, about 80,810 student-beneficiaries enrolled in the TWSP, 34,346 of whom have already graduated, while 46,464 beneficiaries are still in training.

In 2014, about 203,060 student-beneficiaries were enrolled in the program. Of the number, 167,622 student-beneficiaries have graduated.

Of the 107,990 beneficiaries who were enrolled in the TWSP in 2013, approximately 107,596 student-beneficiaries, or 99.63 percent, have graduated from the training. Of the said number, 77,361 student-beneficiaries, or 71.9 percent, were employed in various industries.

In 2012, about 178,680 student-beneficiaries were enrolled in the TWSP. Of the said number, 177,217 student-beneficiaries have graduated and 121, 393 student-beneficiaries, or 68.5 percent, were employed.

Of the 258,472 student-beneficiaries enrolled in 2011, approximately 257,594 student-beneficiaries, or 92 percent, have graduated, 157,708 of whom, or 63 percent, landed jobs in various industries.

In 2010, there were 107,314 TWSP enrolees, of whom 98,752 student-beneficiaries, or 92 percent, have graduated from the program. Of the said number, 67,546, or 68.4 percent, were employed.

Baldoz said the TESDA pursues the TWSP in partnership with the country’s industries. Last year, the agency has embarked on a new phase bringing its training opportunities in diverse skills to the grassroots to make tech-voc more accessible.

On skills assessment and certification, the TESDA, from 2010 to 2015, have assessed the skills of 4,942,858 workers. Of the said number, 4,330,091 workers, or 87.6 percent, were certified in such skill-areas as agri-fisheries, automotive, construction, electronics, furniture and fixtures, garments, health, social and other community development services, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning, information technology, maritime, metals and engineering, processed foods, tourism, utilities, and technical-vocational education and training.

Baldoz said the number of workers who were assessed during the present administration is 53 percent higher than the 2,620,406 workers assessed during the period 2006 to 2009, while the number of workers who were certified from 2010-2015 is also higher by 45 percent than the 1,967,577 certified workers during the period 2005 to 2009.

“The TESDA’s technical-vocational training services contribute significantly to DOLE-led efforts to ensure decent and productive work for all Filipino workers, consistent with the overarching goal stated by President Aquino III, in his 22-point labor and employment agenda, to “invest in our country’s top resource, our human resource, to make us more competitive and employable while promoting industrial peace based on social justice” by ensuring the skills training and upgrading of workers,” said Baldoz.

Attached to the DOLE, the TESDA is in charge of ensuring relevant, accessible, high quality technical-vocational education and skills development to attain international competitiveness for the country’s human resource, as mandated under R. A. 7796, or the TESDA Act.

Source: www.dole.gov.ph