Employers and workers in technical vocational education and training (TVET) will play a larger role in the country as the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) moves to strengthen its partnership with them for a more effective and efficient implementation of its training programs and other services.

This was after TESDA Director General, Secretary Isidro S. Lapeña, signed the “Implementing Guidelines on the Establishment of Institutional Arrangements with Industry Boards or Industry Associations”.

TESDA Director General, Secretary Isidro S. Lapeña
(TESDA / MANILA BULLETIN)

The guidelines aim to “recognize Industry Boards (IBs) or Industry Associations (IAs) as partners in the delivery of TVET programs or services”.

These guidelines also aim to “engage the direct participation of employers and workers in the design and implementation of work related to technical education and skills development”.

The industry sectors primarily include those that are considered by the agency to be Key Employment Generators (KEGs) such as Construction, Tourism, Agri-business, Wholesale and Retail, Health and Wellness and Automotive/Transport.

The IBs and IAs that will be recognized to represent their respective sectors will serve as the “conduit” of the industry in the design and implementation of projects, programs, and activities in TVET of TESDA.

Part of their responsibilities will include giving TESDA recommendations in the conceptualization and execution of skills development schemes, skills standardization, and certification, as well as to entice industries and employers to participate in these activities.

The IBs and IAs will likewise assist in the development of competency standards, curriculum, sectoral skills plans, and assessment tools.

These groups will also take part in the promotion and implementation of various TVET activities towards quality skills development including the conduct of skills competitions.

Initially, a Secretariat will be established to give administrative and technical support to the IBs and IAs. The Secretariat will be composed of staff from TESDA’s Partnerships and Linkages Office (PLO), Qualifications Standards Office (QSO), National Institute for Technical Education and Skills Development (NITESD), Planning Office (PO) and Certification Office (CO).

The TESDA PLO will allocate a budget of P100,000 for each IB or IA for preliminary related activities such as the conduct of meetings, conferences and the production of promotional materials.