TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña. (File photo)
MANILA – Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Secretary Isidro Lapeña has thanked telecommunications giant Globe for heeding the agency's request to provide its subscribers with free access to the agency's online courses.
Globe and TM subscribers have been entitled to free access since August 10, or two weeks before TESDA marks its 26th anniversary on August 25, he told the Philippine News Agency on Thursday night.
Lapeña added that TESDA actually sent a letter to Globe to formally request the partnership.
He added that Globe is TESDA's first telecommunications firm partner for this project.
"Now, even those without access to the internet or mobile data can learn various skills from our TESDA Online Program (TOP). Through Globe's support, our online courses are made more accessible," he said.
In a statement, Globe said its subscribers can access www.e-tesda.gov.ph even without a load, and without incurring any data charges.
It noted, however, that the free access does not cover the materials, courses, and other resources that may be accessed through links outside the TOP's website, such as videos uploaded on video-sharing platforms, courses, and links by partners and other organizations.
“With the uncertainties that we are facing, we need to be prepared to take on new challenges, making it important to continuously learn and explore new ways of doing things. By making TESDA’s online courses more accessible through free data, our Globe and TM customers will have another opportunity to improve their skills.” Yoly Crisanto, Globe's chief sustainability officer, said.
Since March, Lapeña has been promoting the TOP, wherein most of the courses are only short courses that learners could complete, compared to full qualifications.
There is no age limit as to who can avail of TESDA online courses. These can be availed of for free, and one could also enroll in other online courses after finishing a course, he said earlier.
Based on data sent to PNA last July 27, the agency is offering 71 short courses, covering various industries such as automotive servicing, electronics, healthcare, agriculture, information and communications technology, maritime, social community development, tourism, lifelong learning, bread, and pastry production, food and beverage, housekeeping, front office services, among others. (PNA)
