Technical vocational school fair opens

THE Misamis Oriental Association of Public/Private Technology-Based Education and Training Institutions Inc. (MOAPTBET) formally opened on Tuesday its 1st Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) school fair at the De Lara Park of the Provincial Capitol.

The two-day school fair, slated March 12 and 13, is participated by around 30 school members of MOAPTBET, which aims to create awareness on TVET as an alternative education to those who cannot afford to have a four year degree course.

Centered on the theme “Kursong technical, trabaho pang global,” different activities were lined up by the organizers, headed by Mindanao TVET Executive Director Irene L. Floro.

Floro said they invited high school students in Cagayan de Oro City for them to learn from industry experts and employers about the current job trends and hotspots.

She claimed that the fair is a good venue to share information on the relevance of TVET in nation building and market them to the TVET individual programs as well.

During Tuesday’s opening, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) regional director Edgar Sales emphasized in his talk the essence of vocational courses and how it will greatly help in providing sure employment to the graduates.

Sales said the continuing program of the government is a noble program of the government to uplift the morale of every individual and alleviate them from poverty.

“For this year, President Benigno Aquino expanded the budget of Tesda to answer the need of the global economy, which is on Information Technology,” he said.

Sales added that the President has allotted P1.1 billion to enhance individuals to become competent in the field of Information Communication Technology and cope up with the worldwide demand.

True to the vision of TVET, Matt Andrew Ria testified that his life really changed after he graduated from a Tesda course -- Backhoe Operator -- at Skills Mastery Institute (SMI) in 2010.

Ria said after graduation, the school facilitated for his employment in Saudi Arabia as a backhoe operator, earning P25,000 a month.

After he finished his contract, he said he was able to land a job at SMI as a Junior Trainer of heavy equipment.

“I still have plans to go out of the country and get a higher paying job since there were lesser opportunities here in the Philippines,” Ria said.
Among the highlights of the two-day event are booth display competition, course/qualification orientation and skills demonstration, TVET success story writing contest, TVET painting competition, graduate testimonials, lectures/presentations by invited speakers and raffle draws.

Floro said having this kind of activity would somehow promote camaraderie among TVET institutions in Misamis Oriental as well as to provide a venue where they can do actual skills demonstration, equipment relay and booth displays.