(PNA file photo by Cristina Arayata)
MANILA – There were over 1.2 million graduates of technical vocational education and training (tech-voc) courses and 872,016 received certification as skilled workers in 2023, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) reported on Friday.
The total 1,222,330 graduates is almost the same figure as the tech-voc 1.2 million graduates in 2022.
In January 2023, TESDA announced that it was targeting 1.8 million enrollees for the year. However, only 1,414,267 have enrolled based on TESDA's data as of Nov. 30, 2023.
TESDA also reported 935,978 who applied for certification, and 93 percent or 872,016 of them were certified as skilled workers.
The Authority previously announced that about nine out of 10 graduates in 2022 were able to get certification.
"Yet another proof of TESDA’s pursuit of innovation and excellence in TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) is the adoption of the extended reality (XR) technology in the implementation of training and assessment," the TESDA said in a news release.
It can be recalled that TESDA continued to ink partnerships with both the public and private sectors in 2023. Partnership endeavors include strengthening the TVET system and widening TESDA's reach to the public.
According to TESDA, they have signed partnerships with the Clark Development Corporation, Department of Tourism, National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Philippine Coast Guard, National Commission on Indigenous People, Department of Justice Parole and Probation Administration, and National Housing Authority, San Miguel Corporation, Nestle Philippines, People Management Association of the Philippines, Coca-Cola Philippines, and Microsoft Philippines among others.
"TESDA shall expand the role of TVET at all fronts and be a catalyst for creating jobs and community enterprises and empowering individuals and improving their quality of life,” TESDA Secretary Suharto Mangudadatu was quoted as saying.
Last year, the TESDA launched the National Technical Education and Skills Development Plan (NTESDP) 2023-2028 for a more competitive upskilling and reskilling framework.
TESDA currently has 316 Training Regulations, 74 Competency Standards, and 570 Diploma Programs.
Without citing a figure and timeline, the TESDA said more TVET innovation centers will be built.
It is also set to explore possible collaborations to ensure that TVET programs remain at par with international standards, it said. (PNA)
