Villanueva: Tesda tech-voc adopts to industrial trends

• Source:http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/2015/12/01/villanueva-tesda-tech-voc-adopts-industrial-trends-444548
• Tuesday, December 1, 2015

By Reynaldo G. Navales

CLARK FREEPORT -- The technical and vocational education and training (TVET) has adopted to industrial trends.

This was disclosed by former Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) Director General Joel Villanueva during a forum at Hotel Stotsenberg here yesterday.

Villanueva, a senatorial bet of Liberal Party, said that Tesda educational programs fits to the skill demands of industries.

“Ang kagandahan ng tech-voc at lalo na ng Tesda much more flexible ang ahensiya than other departments like for instance ang Ched (Commission on Higher Education) hindi ganun kadaling baguhin ang curriculum,” he said.

With the Asean integration, Villanueva said that curriculums should be at par to the regional employment demands.

“Ito yung magandang usapin at issues na dapat pag-usapan. Katatapos lang ng Apec (Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit at yung Papua New Guinea, Australia, at Canada, if I am not mistaken, they signed a memorandum of agreement with the Philippines at malaking bagay ito para doon sa mga mutual recognition arrangements na tinatawag para again yung pangarap natin na ihulma yung at i-harmonize yung curriculums natin at all levels from DepEd to Tesda to Ched at maging yung standards napaka importanti niyan para yung graduates natin ng welder dito, welder din ang aaplayan niya [sa ibang bansa],” Villanueva said.

If elected senator, Villanueva disclosed that he will also push for the harmonization of curriculum of all educational levels. “Not just the tech-voc sector para yung engineer na gumraduate dito sa atin sa Pilipinas, engineer pa rin ang aaplayan niya sa Estados Unidos,” Villanueva said.

Villanueva has also underscored the relevance of the Central Luzon Regional TVET forum.

“Ito ay napakaimportante para sa Tech-Voc sector sa larangan ng edukasyon at pagte-training ng sa ganon ay makapagbigay tayo ng hanapbuhay na magli-lead sa magandang kinabukasan ng ating mga kababayan,” he said.

The regional TVET forum was organized by the Central Luzon Federation of Technical Vocational Institutions (TVI-Central Luzon) in cooperation with Tesda Region III and local government units in the region.

More than 1,000 delegates from the private and public schools, which offer technical and vocational courses, attended the forum.

The topics discussed during the forum included Tesda Initiatives and Updates Towards Development of Globally Competitive Skilled Workers, Mutual Recognition on Tourism; a Step Towards Asean Integration, Skills Demand Perspective for Tec Voc Skills in the Country and Abroad, and Ladderized Education System: Implementing Rules and Regulations.

Resource speakers include Tesda Planning Office director Marissa G. Legaspi, Tourism Investment and Promotions Group Director Maria Rica C. Bueno, Department of Labor and Employment Bureau of Local Employment Director Dominigue R. Tutay, and CHED Region 3 Director Caridad O. Abuan.