For decades, we believed that a four-year college degree was the ticket to a prosperous career. Fletcher Gumahad, TESDA-Negros Oriental provincial director, said many people still prefer a baccalaureate degree that usually takes at least four years in college over the shorter tech-voc courses.
However, the current economic landscape tells a different story. According to recent reports, even college graduates struggle to find jobs that match their qualifications, leading to under-employment or positions that do not require a degree.
The root of this issue lies in a fundamental mismatch between the skills taught in many traditional academic programs, and the needs of the modern workforce.
Gumahad says TESDA graduates have better chances of landing a job faster due to the availability of positions. “A TESDA graduate gets employed within six months of completion of a course with a National Certification Level II, compared to college degree holders who get hired a year or even longer after graduation,” he said.
Industries in developed nations are increasingly reliant on technical skills that are not typically covered in a conventional college curriculum. Fields such as advanced manufacturing, information technology, healthcare, and renewable energy are growing rapidly, yet, they face a shortage of skilled workers.
This gap presents an opportunity for Technical-Vocational Education & Training (TVET) programs to step in, and fill the void by providing targeted, industry-relevant training. TVET offers a pragmatic solution to the skills gap by equipping students with the practical abilities that employers are actively seeking.
Unlike the often-theoretical approach of traditional academia, TVET programs are designed in collaboration with industry leaders, ensuring that the curriculum is aligned with real-world demands.
Students in these programs gain hands-on experience with the tools and technologies they will use in their careers, making them immediately valuable in the job market. By providing a pathway to stable, well-paying jobs, TVET can play a key role in reducing economic inequality, and fostering social mobility.
As First World countries face demographic shifts, including aging populations and declining birth rates, the demand for skilled labor is intensifying. These countries are increasingly looking to recruit workers from abroad, like the Philippines, but our supply of adequately-trained individuals is insufficient to meet the demand. Herein lies another critical function of TVET: preparing a global workforce that can fill these gaps.
To truly address the challenges of unemployment and underemployment, we must shift our collective mindset to recognize the value of technical and vocational education. Governments, educational institutions, and industry leaders must collaborate to promote and invest in TVET programs, ensuring they are well-resourced, high-quality, and aligned with the needs of the global economy.
