MANILA — The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is working on providing “green” technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in the country to support the government’s move to promote a green economy.
Green economy is defined as an economy that reduces environmental risks and ecological scarcities, and thus, aims for sustainable development without degrading the environment.
TESDA Director General Guiling Mamondiong believes that a green TVET system would help make the stakeholders appreciate what green TVET means and the skills required to boost a green economy.
TESDA has organized a three-day conference called “Green TVET Forum and Strategic Planning on Greening the TVET System” slated to be held in Intramuros, Manila on March 6-8.
The event aims to formulate training regulations on skills training, program registration, assessment, and certification required for manpower in a green economy.
Through this forum, TESDA also targets to provide inputs towards developing the strategic plan in greening the TVET system, including the operationalization of the Green Technology Center as its Green Skills Hub.
“Green technology” will be used in teaching green TVET, TESDA said.
The agency will seek help from the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Labor and Employment in analyzing the needed skills, training, and re-training on “green technology”.
“Green technology” would generate more green jobs, TESDA said.
The International Labor Organization has described green jobs as those that contribute to preserve or restore the environment. These jobs also help improve energy and raw materials efficiency, it added.
ILO supports the 3rd Cycle of the National Technical Education and Skills Development Plan (NTESDP) 2011-2016 of TESDA.
NTESDP contains the challenges that the TVET sector has faced in relation to green skills. It also includes a plan to train new workers with appropriate green skills, particularly for the renewable industries.
Meanwhile, apart from the forum, TESDA said a techno fair would also be staged. Companies involved in green technologies such as solar panels, e-bikes/trikes, TVET trainers, assessors, and students are expected to come. (Ma. Cristina Arayata/PNA)
