Tesda Opens 15,000 Scholarships in Central Visayas for 2015

(PNA) — The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) is offering about 15,000 slots for training scholarships in Central Visayas this year.

Tesda Secretary Joel Villanueva said more than half of the slots will be for scholars in Cebu.

“The slots have yet to be filled, since it’s still the beginning of the year. The number may still increase also,” Villanueva said in a press conference during his visit at the University of Cebu-Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue Campus Thursday.

Villanueva said the agency has set aside at least P70 million for scholarships in the region.

Tesda’s scholarship programs are: Training for Work Scholarship Program, Private Education Student Fund Assistance Program, Special Training for Employment Program and the Bottom-Up Budgeting.

He said the agency has a Php3.2-billion budget this year to help unemployed people get skills to land a job.

From the budget, Php2 billion has been allocated for training scholarships.

In Central Visayas, Cebu will get the biggest share of the slots for scholarships.

Some 2,000 slots will be for Bohol, 1,500 to 2,000 slots for Negros Oriental and less than 1,000 slots for Siquijor.

Villanueva reported that Tesda and its partner technical and vocational schools in the region have produced more than 200,000 graduates and more than 80,000 of them are now employed.

There are more than 200 accredited training providers in the region.

Villanueva said among the skills that are in-demand in the region are slaughtering, welding, construction and tourism-related skills.

Tesda has been reaching out to those living far from urban areas through mobile centers.

Villanueva said Tesda and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. recently signed an agreement to put up more training mobile centers that will benefit scholars in remote areas.

Villanueva said he hopes more people will consider taking Tesda courses.

“The greatest challenge we face is the stigma against the tech-voc sector. Most people think the only way to be successful is to have a bachelor’s degree. But there is also a career path in the tech-voc sector,” he said. (PNA) LGI/EB