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PASAY CITY, 22 November 2024 — The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) are intensifying efforts to elevate the status of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as a viable career option for Senior High School (SHS) learners.
In a recent Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) forum, both Philippine agencies shed light on the common challenges faced by Southeast Asian countries in delivering quality TVET programs, including poor funding and the pressing need to improve the quality of graduates entering the workforce.
“Our regional landscape of TVET is changing. TVET continues to equip our young people with a viable pathway, a quick pipeline from education to employment. It is our responsibility to raise the profile and prestige of TVET, it should not be undervalued and overlooked, but rather progressed and flourished alongside our formal academic system,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said in his message read by Undersecretary Gina O. Gonong.
Titled “Shifting Mindset: Reshaping Youth Perception of TVET in Southeast Asia”, the forum for the SEAMEO Council Presidency Flagship Program 4 provided an avenue for collaboration among SEAMEO member countries by sharing best practices and strategies to enhance TVET.
The two-day program included plenary sessions, open forums, and workshops to engage stakeholders and policymakers actively. An exhibit showcasing 4IR technologies and AI applications in TVET by industry partners also provided insights into the future of technical education.
In a video message, TESDA Director General Jose Francisco Benitez echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of continuous regional efforts to enhance TVET quality and relevance.
“Changing these perceptions require continues emphasis on the relevance, quality and impact of TVET on both individual success and broader economy as included in SEAMEO’s education agenda flagship initiatives of promoting TVET,” Sec. Benitez said.
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