Monday, April 30, 2007 Agency set to launch web-based job training program
IN A bid to address the issue of underemployment and unemployment in the country, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) will introduce on April 30 a web-based training program dubbed e-TESDA as part of the agency's campaign under the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (Tvet) program.
The agency is also set to launch its free assessment and training program for household service workers nationwide under the government's Training for Work Scholarship Program.
Tesda director general Augusto Syjuco said the Internet-based program will be pilot-tested starting on May 1 until the end of the year and will be institutionalized in 2008.
Syjuco said the program which will feature career guidance and counseling, competency assessment and certification, full online and blended learning programs, job matching and referral will also speed up the accreditation of programs by institutions offering Tvet programs with the agency.
Aside from addressing the issues of underemployment and unemployment, Syjuco said the program is also part of their overall thrust to solve the increasing mismatch in the skills of secondary and tertiary graduates in the country to the needs of the industry.
Educating and providing jobs to more Filipinos means uplifting their standards of living as well and the country's economic situation as a whole, he said.
Several experts have voiced their concern over the growing mismatch of workers' skills and the need of the industry, saying if the present trend continues, the country's competitive edge in the international market could erode over time.
With this in mind, the government through the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (Ched) and Tesda has started a shift in their investments towards more vocational and technical courses under the Ladderized Program.
At least 260 institutions of higher learning will offer ladderized courses to their students this school year while the DepEd is initially targeting 190 secondary schools in various parts of the country.
The Tesda will also incorporate information and updates on events, quick links to other programs of government agencies like the labor department and the agency's regional offices.
"Through this program, we want to have greater accessibility to benefit more of our graduates, particularly high school graduates and out-of-school youths, persons with disabilities, returning Overseas Filipino Workers who want to upgrade their skills and those who are pondering career change," Syjuco added.
Another benefit of the program, according to him, is that institutions that want to participate in technical and vocational programs of the agency can now complete all documentary requirements online and download forms and accept online submissions as part of the programs Unified Tvet Program Registration and Accreditation System (Utpras).
Syjuco said the system will be tested initially in Metro Manila and in Southern Tagalog regions. (AH/Sunnex)
