The National TESD Plan for 2018 – 2022 espouses the 2 – pronged Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) directions for the next 5 years: 1) TVET for Global Competitiveness and Job Readiness and; 2) TVET for Social Equity and Poverty Reduction. TVET is being re-positioned to respond to the new challenges brought about by the local as well as global drivers of change which impact on how industries operate – streamlined business processes, use of global value chain, and adoption of high technology and information technology and mobile workforce. With the fast-paced and complex way of doing business, TVET has to respond to these challenges of addressing the diversified industry requirements and at the same time making sure that no one is left behind in TVET.
TESDA, together with the TVET sector, commits to address the issues, problems, and gaps culled from the lessons of the previous Plans in order for the sector to remain relevant. In sum, the NTESDP 2018-2022 aspires to pursue and achieve Quality TVET for All.
It is in this context that TESDA has been implementing scholarship programs such as TWSP, STEP, PESFA, UAQTEA, and TTSP to enhance TVET access and encourage technical education and skills development for the needed workers of key employment generating as well as emerging industries.
TESDA is determined to expand and strengthen its mandate, programs and services. It will reach out and serve new and more clients and partners to transform and improve the lives of the poor and underserved citizens of this country living true to its proclaimed policy “TESDA Abot Lahat”.
Programs Covered:
A. TVET for Global Competitiveness and Workforce Readiness
In order to support rapid, inclusive and sustained economic growth, programs on identified priority industries and key employment generators such as agri-fishery/agri-business/agro-industrial, tourism, information technology-business process management (IT-BPM), semi-conductor and electronics, automotive, other priority manufacturing industries, logistics, general infrastructure, new and emerging sectors which include skills development for Green Jobs, and local in-demand qualifications, shall be offered. Programs which seek to provide individuals with demand-led skills and employability and help them overcome challenges to meet the demands of the changing nature of the workplace shall be prioritized, such as, but not limited to, the following:
- Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) – is a scholarship program which provides immediate interventions to produce the needed skilled and certified wor\ers and fill-up the unfilled jobs in key industry sectors in the country. The TWSP seeks to support rapid, inclusive and sustained economic growth through course offerings in priority industries and key employment generators. The following programs are also covered by the TWSP:
a. Trainers Methodology (TM) Level I and Level Il including Cluster of Competency/ies (COC) of private and public TVls shall be covered with scholarship;
b. Language Programs offered by TESDA Language Skills Institutes (I-SIS) and TTls shall likewise be covered by scholarship;
c. Competency Assessment and Certification for Workers (CACW) shall be covered and governed by existing guidelines;
d. Enterprise-Based Training through the Dual Training System (DTS) Program. The in-school training component shall be covered with scholarship;
e. New and Emerging Competencies shall be defined by the industry bodies/associations from the result of international and local researches, studies/labor market information/publications, among others, and recommended by the ROS concerned. This may include development for Green Jobs. Likewise, local in-demand qualifications including the regional and provincial priorities that are not identified as key employment generators may be covered provided there are existing employment opportunities as evidenced by job orders or authenticated job vacancies or assurance of employment (RIPTESDP). Project proposal are needed to be given scholarship funding; and
f. Social Equity Programs shall also be covered. Project proposals are needed to be given scholarship funding.
2. Private Education Student Financial Assistance (PESFA) — is one form of assistance to students in private education under RA 8645, otherwise known as “Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education Act”. PESFA offers educational grants to qualified and deserving college freshmen both in degree and non-degree courses. The 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.
3. Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education (UAQTEA) – a program established through Republic Act No. 10931 providing for free tuition and other school fees in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) and state-run Technical Vocational Institutions (STVls), establishing the Tertiary Education Subsidy and Student Loan Program (SLP), strengthening the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST), and appropriating funds therefor.
a. Free TVET in Post secondary State-Run TVls (STVI) – All Filipino learners who are currently enrolled at the time of the effectivity of the Act, or shall enroll at any time thereafter, in any TESDA-registered TVET program leading to a non-degree certificate or diploma, including diploma courses and bundled programs, and offered by STVls shall be eligible for the free TVET provision, provided that they comply with the admission and retention policies and existing residency rules of the STVIS.
b. Tertiary Education and Subsidy (TES) – The TES program is established to benefit all Filipino learners who shall enroll in postsecondary TVET programs registered under TESDA and offered in all TESDA-recognized privately-run institutions, subject to prioritization and availability of funds, provided that they comply with the admission and retention policies and existing residency rules of the institutions.
4. Tulong Trabaho Scholarship Program (TTSP) – a scholarship program established through Republic Act No. 11230 which mainly aims to provide more innovative approaches to TVET linked to the requirements of industry to primarily address unemployment and job-skill mismatch through the delivery of Selected Training Programs (STPs) to qualified recipients. The TTSP is primarily governed by TESDA Circular No. 131, series of 2019.
5. TESDA Overseas Scholarship Program – a pilot program to further support the OFWs in enhancing their skills and find better, more decent jobs through the provision of quality training programs as well as assessment and certification to our OFWs.
B. TVET for Social Equity
Social Equity Programs which shall adopt a needs-based and multi-skilling approach to provide people in communities the opportunity to engage in various activities to earn income shall be offered. The curriculum for these programs shall be developed to ensure that people in the communities become knowledge-skilled entrepreneurs. Social Equity Programs may include the following:
- Special Training for Employment Program (STEP) – a community-based training program that seeks to address the specific skills needs of the communities and promote employment, through entrepreneurial, self-employment, and service-oriented activities. Under STEP, the training programs are generally short-term and shall use the cluster of units of competencies prescribed in the Training Regulations (TRs) promulgated by TESDA, wherever applicable.
2. Special Skills Training Program (SSTP) – is a scholarship program which was established in support of Executive Order No. 70 which addresses the needs of Indigenous Peoples and Former Rebels (FRS) and Executive Order No. 79 which caters to the Decommissioned Combatants of the MILF and their Communities in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
3. Rice Extension Services Program (RESP) – a program under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) for teaching skills on rice crop production, modem rice farming techniques, seed production, farm mechanization, and knowledge/technology transfer through farm schools nationwide. The TTSP is primarily governed by TESDA Circular No. 101, series of 2019.
4. Other Training Programs needed by the community to be funded through Training/Project Proposal. The Provisional Training Team may be tapped in the implementation of these programs.