Director General Joel Villanueva of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority said yesterday that TESDA graduates have a choice to pursue their career in the country or to go abroad.
He was commenting on observations that TESDA graduates tend to seek overseas employment rather than remain in the country after their skills training. He admitted that it is difficult to keep the TESDA-trained graduates here where employers cannot provide them the fat paychecks offered by foreign companies.
Villanueva cited a person who now works in Perth, Australia, and earns as much as P225,000 a month. That is difficult to match but Filipinos usually, opt for overseas employment, he added.
It is also unfortunate that there is no government policy that does not allow TESDA graduates to seek employment abroad.
There are 20,000 programs on tech-voc with 245 training regulations, Villanueva said.
Under its Special Training for Employment Program, the agency gives out tool kits for those who train to become entrepreneurs. He said the TESDA is expanding the choices of the people and empower them, but after that, it’s their choice, he said.
While TESDA is part of the education sector, it is now also involved in the K to 12 program implementation, and is also a certifying body, like the Professional Regulatory Commission.
While the PRC gives out certifications for professionals, like lawyers and engineers, TESDA is charged with certifying skilled workers, he said.
He encouraged the public to avail of the wide array of skills training offered by TESDA, noting, that there is now a high demand for skilled workers in the international market.
Villanueva was in Dumaguete to distribute scholarship vouchers to students and members of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas local chapter. (PNA/JFP)
