THE Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) announced the availability of 3,115 slots under two scholarship programs of the agency.
Tesda-Armm Officer-in-Charge Rasol Mitmug Jr. said Thursday that applications for the two programs, specifically the Private Education Student Financial Assistance (Pesfa) and Training for Work Scholarship (TWSP), are now open.
Mitmug, who is also the chief-of-staff of the Office of the Regional Governor, said that a total of 2,325 slots have been allocated under TWSP and 790 slots for Pesfa.
The Tesda central office headed by Director-General Guiling Mamondiong has earmarked P25 million for the two scholarship programs in Armm.
The TWSP provides immediate interventions to meet the need for highly critical skills.
The TWSP aims to purposely drive Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) provision to available jobs through incentives and appropriate training programs that are directly connected to existing jobs for immediate employment, both locally and overseas, and to build and strengthen the capacity and capability of TVET institutions in expanding and improving the delivery of quality, efficient and relevant training programs that meet job requirements, including programs for higher levels of technology.
The target beneficiaries under the TWSP program include but not limited to drug dependent surrenderers, out-of-school youths, unemployed and underemployed, industry workers obtaining skills upgrading training programs, overseas Filipino workers and their dependents, basic and marginalized sectors, TVET trainers and other targeted special groups.
On the other hand, Pesfa offers educational grants to qualified and deserving college freshmen both in degree and non-degree courses.
The Pesfa program seeks to extend financial assistance to marginalized but deserving students in post-secondary non-degree courses, promote TVET, contribute to the development of a competent skilled workforce and assist private institutions in their development efforts by assuring a steady supply of enrollees to their course offerings.
Under the Pesfa program, beneficiaries must have completed at least 10 years of basic education, at least 15 years old at the start of the training, have taken the National Career Assessment Examination, have an annual family income of not more than P300,000, must not be a recipient of any post-Grade 10 scholarship program and must not have attended any post-secondary and college education program.
Mitmug said the applicants may visit the Tesda training office in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao to avail themselves of the scholarship programs. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)