24 June 2021

Taguig City – The Philippines, through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has concluded the two-day workshop on the development of the ASEAN TVET Council (ATC) Work Plan.

Last June 15 and 16, ASEAN Member States and their respective ministries of education, labour, and trade/industry together with the ASEAN Confederation of Employers, ASEAN Future Workforce Council, ASEAN Trade Union Council, and the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Secretariat met virtually to craft the work plan for technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in the region amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

In his opening remarks, TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña, who also serves as the inaugural ATC Chair, welcomed the ATC focal points from the region. 

“Let us provide one another with insights on how we, the ASEAN TVET Council, can help our labor force recover from the pandemic and ultimately, ensure their resilience in this continuously changing world of work,” he said.

The two-day workshop focused on revisiting and agreeing on the structure and components of the draft work plan through comprehensive discussions among all the ATC Focal points and stakeholders.

At the end of the workshop, the council has come up with a more concrete plan in terms of the priority programs that they will pursue in the ATC. It has also identified the areas of strategic collaborations and cooperation with external partners and sectoral bodies.

Lapeña expressed confidence that the council has achieved the primary objective of the two-day workshop which is coming up with the work plan.

The work plan will be the council’s guide on the implementation of strategies and other innovations to empower the labor force and further improve TVET in the ASEAN region.

“This workshop is a testament of our strong commitment and partnership in achieving our shared goal of advancing the ASEAN TVET systems that will contribute to the competitiveness, productivity, and resilience of the ASEAN workforce,” Lapeña said in his closing remarks.

The delegates from all the ASEAN Member States were joined by dialogue partners from Australia, Germany, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, and United Kingdom, as well as development partners from the International Labour Organization, International Organization for Migration, UNESCO, SEAMEO-VOCTECH and Regional Cooperation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training for ASEAN (RECOTVET).

With support from the ASEAN secretariat and experts, discussions will continue inter-sessionally to finalize the work plan at the ATC level. It will then be endorsed to the relevant ASEAN sectoral bodies for approval, and finally noted at the upcoming ASEAN summit in October.

The ATC, being a multi-sectoral/cross-sectoral body, provides a platform for coordination, research and development on innovations, and monitoring of regional programs that support the advancement of TVET in the ASEAN.

Last March 10, Lapeña convened the members of the ATC for the first time. The inaugural meeting focused on the selection of the council’s vice-chair, discussion of the rules of procedure, and the presentation of the zero draft ATC work plan. This two-day workshop, on the other hand, has realized the development and detailing of initiatives and collaboration areas as part of the work plan development process.  

The creation of the ATC was initiated by TESDA’s Policies and Planning cluster in 2017, and was approved during the 36th ASEAN Summit in June 2020. The Philippines is the chair of the ATC until 2022, with Singapore as its vice-chair. ###

19 June 2021

TESDA chief congratulates graduates of pilot program on shortened Domestic Work training

Taguig City–The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) chief Secretary Isidro Lapeña congratulated the first batch of the pilot 12-Day Blended Training for Domestic Work NC II for passing their competency assessment.

“Congratulations for being certified skilled workers! I hope that along with the knowledge and skills you gained from the training, you also gained the confidence and readiness to begin your journey overseas,” said Lapeña.

It can be recalled that TESDA, International Labor Organization (ILO) and its partner training institution, Fair Training Center (FTC), launched on May 24 the 12-Day Blended Training Program for Domestic Work NC II to address the need of outbound domestic workers for a shorter course duration without compromising the quality of the training.

The compressed training period was a combination of online classes and face-to-face training conducted by FTC. The ten-day online lectures (excluding weekends) were done through a private Facebook group page where trainees accessed their modules, videos and assessment activities. Submission of assignments as well as counseling sessions courtesy of the FTC was done via Facebook Messenger Rooms and Messenger Chats.

The face-to-face component –which was held at the FTC in Parañaque–focused on the learner’s readiness for their Domestic Work NC II assessment as well as applying the competencies they learned from their online classes such as the right use of household equipment and adopting the proper decorum as foreign household workers.

18 out of the 20 trainees completed the training and passed their assessments which they took at the Pasay-Makati Training and Assessment Center on June 9 and 11. The other two were unable to complete the training for personal reasons.

All participants from this batch already have employers in Hongkong, Malaysia and Singapore and are now processing their overseas employment contract.

Since the program’s launch, trainees were excited and motivated to finish the course.  

“To TESDA and ILO, thank you for granting the 12-day blended learning program of FTC which helped us have more time to take care of our family and other important matters while we are getting the right kind of training,” said Aiza Mae Buenavides, one of the graduates who is bound for Hong Kong.

Another graduate from Valenzuela City, Elinalyn Sabandal added, “I am confident enough to pass the assessment because I am strongly supported by organizations like TESDA, ILO and FTC. We thank ILO and FTC and we are honored and privileged to be part of this joint program with TESDA. We deeply appreciate your support.”

The ILO shoulders all the expenses of the program’s pilot implementation which will run for six months with a minimum of 60 trainees. Lapeña said that this program will be immediately recommended for adoption by other training centers offering Domestic Work if the pilot program proves effective. ###

11 June 2021

TESDA strengthens online training program

Taguig City – The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is set to expand its online training program to more Filipinos as part of its initiative for economic recovery post-pandemic.

This was after TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña and The Asia Foundation Deputy Country Representative in the Philippines Ethan Geary signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) on June 8.

Under the MoA, TESDA and The Asia Foundation shall partner to bring the Go Digital ASEAN initiative’s free digital skills training to more Filipinos as part of ongoing economic recovery due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some courses of Go Digital ASEAN such as “Digital Tools for Job Seekers”, “Harnessing Social Media to Expand your Business”, and “Getting your Business Online” will be integrated to TESDA Online Program (TOP).

According to the data released by E-TESDA, there are now 3,008,838 registered users in the TOP since its launching in 2012 up to May 2021.

The Go Digital ASEAN initiative supports jobseekers and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) through online skills training. In particular, the trainings aim to close gaps in digital literacy skills necessary for navigating the online space and successfully

securing employment opportunities.

The program also equips MSMEs with skills to digitize their enterprise and harness social media to expand their markets and customer base.

Likewise, TESDA and The Asia Foundation shall collaborate for the conduct of Training of Trainers of TESDA Technology Institution (TTI) trainers and conduct regular consultations to address emerging needs and concerns of the industry.

This partnership was already established at the community level by Go Digital ASEAN implementing partner Pailig Development Foundation, Inc. with local TTIs such as Regional Training Center Iligan, Lanao Norte National Agro-Industrial School (LNNAIS), Salvador Trade School, Provincial Training Center – Plaridel, Misamis Occidental, and the Cagayan de Oro Bugo School of Arts and Trades in North Mindanao.

In his speech, Lapeña noted that through this partnership, TESDA will be able to reach more people, especially the disadvantaged and provide them opportunities to improve their lives.

Lapeña also said that adding the courses from The Asian Foundation’s’ Go Digital ASEAN program to TOP will help TTIs to provide value-adding skills for employment and livelihood, especially during the pandemic.

“Through this digital skilling program, we will be able to prepare our learners for the digital world, bridge the digital divide, and guide and equip our jobseekers with the tools and skills for e-commerce,” he said.

Meanwhile, for his part, Geary said that the partnership will help Filipinos increase their

employability and secure sustainable livelihood by actively and effectively participating in the digital economy.

“This partnership culminates and institutionalizes efforts from Go Digital ASEAN and the TESDA to ensure digital inclusion for all Filipinos,” he said.

Also present during the virtual MoA signing were TESDA Deputy Director General for Policies and Planning Rosanna Urdaneta and Go Digital ASEAN Special Projects Officer Patrick Bolaños. ###