By Ma. Cristina Arayata/PNA
MANILA — The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is currently working to establish institutional agreements with industry boards (IBs) or industry associations (IAs), an executive told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Wednesday.
Chief TESDA Specialist Floramel Joy Songsong said that TESDA wants to include IBs and IAs in each of its five priority sectors.
“Once the sector has an IB, the IB will be encouraged to apply to be recognized by TESDA. If there’s no IB, IAs may also apply to be recognized,” she said.
According to Songsong, the five priority sectors are key employment generators: construction, tourism, agri-business, wholesale and retail, health and wellness, automotive and transport.
“Once the IBs or IAs are TESDA-recognized, they shall engage their services and expertise in the development and implementation of activities related to TVET (technical and vocational training and education),” Songsong said.
She added that having TESDA-recognized IBs and IAs would entice participation of the employers and industries in the design and implementation of skills standardization and certification.
“(TESDA-recognized IBs and IAs) will give advice to TESDA in the design and implementation of skills development schemes to deliver quality TVET,” the executive added.
They will also provide policy advice during the review and updating of competency standards, curriculum exemplars, assessment tools, as well as in the formulation of industry skills plans.
Furthermore, the IBs and IAs will participate in the promotion and implementation of TVET activities, including the conduct of skills competition, Songsong said.
