Summer Technical Vocational Studies

MANILA, Philippines - Instead of being idle this summer, the Technical Educational and Development Authority on Monday urged students to take up technical-vocational studies or training after finishing high school.

He also  called on the parents of high school graduates to encourage and support their children who want to get into tech-voc, saying that it would be a worthy investment.

"Many graduates look to college after high school and wait for the school year opening in June or August. Instead of spending idle months, they may enroll in a tech-voc course that interests them," TESDA director general Joel Villanueva said.

"I urge our youth to find the means to be productive. Being a tambay (idle) after high school is not totally cool," he added.

Villanueva said that this early, high school graduates should begin mapping out their career path, knowing what they want to learn, and how to get there.

Graduates should think out of the box and see beyond the traditional college course education.

"It's not always college education equals job equals success.  Jobs come easy when one possesses the knowledge and skills relevant to what the industries and employers need," he said.

Villanueva said that graduates should also think global and learn things that will open up a wide array of employment opportunities.

As the government agency mandated to promote technical vocational education and training, TESDA and its network of public and private institutions offer a host of courses that can be completed in a short period of time; some even in less than a month .

Currently, there are close to 20,000 programs in these institutions that are registered with the agency.

In partnership with companies, TESDA also has apprenticeship programs that involve actual work exposure and prepare the youth to the world of work.

Villanueva said that most of the universities and colleges will begin the new school year in June, while some like the Ateneo de Manila University and several campuses of the University of the Philippines will embark on a new school year opening in August.

"This gives the graduates three to five months of free time, which can be used productively to enroll in a tech-voc course," Villanueva said.

2014 ASEAN Skills Competition

Eyeing the 2014 ASEAN Skills Competition (ASC), over 100 technical vocational (tech-voc) graduates and trainees will compete against each other starting today for national honor and ASC slots.

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) opens today in three venues the 2014 Philippine National Skills Competition (PNSC) to showcase the skills learned by tech-voc graduates and trainees.

Winners in the April 7-10 PNSC will earn a slot, aside from honor and prestige, at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) event to be held in Vietnam this year.

TESDA Secretary Joel J. Villanueva lauded the national finalists for embracing excellence in their skills.

“The national finalists have shown they have what it takes to excel in rapidly-growing trades and industries,” he said.

Villanueva, TESDA director general, said the skills competition which demonstrates competencies of tech-voc graduates and skilled workers “brings them to a spot in which they are seen as role models to other young people who want to explore careers in high-demand qualifications.”

TESDA-National Capital Region Director Mitzi Tangonan said the participants come from the country’s various tech-voc institutions (TVIs).

She said the PNSC will be held simultaneously at TESDA-NCR (MFI-Foundation, Pasig City); Region III (San Fernando City, Pampanga); and Region IV-A (Batangas City).

The Philippine winners will go to Vietnam for the ASC to compete with tech-voc national champions among members of the ASEAN. Comprising ASEAN are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

TESDA said the national finalists will participate in either of the following trade areas: Automobile Technology; Beauty Therapy; Cooking; Electrical Installation and Maintenance; Electronics; Fashion Technology; Graphic Design Technology; Hairdressing; IT Network Systems Administration; IT Software Solution for Business; Information Network Cabling; Mechanical Engineering Design-CAD; Mechatronics; Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Servicing; Restaurant Servicing; Web Design; and Welding.

Villanueva said he is hopeful the PNCS participants will have a challenging and fun experience as they compete with each other to test their stamina and skill.