Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Central Luzon continues to provide scholarship and trainings to various sectors amid the pandemic.

TESDA Regional Director Balmyrson Valdez said the agency has several training programs for interested individuals to help them become skilled in their chosen courses or training programs.

“We provide free scholarships to everyone. We also conduct assessment and certification because we know that the certification system of TESDA is one way for jobseekers to land jobs faster. When you are NC II or NC III certified, you have a good chance of being employed,” he said.

Among the scholarships that TESDA is currently implementing amid the pandemic include the Training for Work Scholarship Program, Private Education Student Financial Assistance, Special Training for Employment Program, Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, Tsuper Iskolar, Rice Extension Services, and Tulong Trabaho Scholarship Program.

These scholarships, Valdez said, aim to aid the scholars acquire employment opportunities that suit the skill set they have, especially now that the labor market is looking for skilled workers.

“Right now, because of the pandemic, we implement blended training program wherein most of the modules are taught online and there are only limited face-to-face classes if needed. There are specific requirements for each type of scholarship that are posted in our website. However, the general requirement is that you are at least 15 to 18 years old, and can commit to finish the modules,” the director said.

Aside from scholarships, TESDA also offers various skills training programs like agriculture and fishery-related, cookery, housekeeping, welding, heavy equipment operation, driving, and information technology, among others.

Valdez reported that for the past two years, TESDA was able to train around 100,000 individuals in the region through the blended learning, and about 2,000 individuals from isolated and indigenous communities through face-to-face trainings.

Aside from the provision of trainings and scholarships, he said TESDA also assists its beneficiaries even after graduation to ensure their employability.

TESDA partnered with the private sector and other government agencies in the conduct of skills mapping to identify the training needs in a community or municipality.

“This is one way to ensure that after graduation, about 90 to 100% of our graduates will be employed because the skills set they acquire match the needs of the industry. We also partnered with the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry to create industry boards like in agriculture and construction,” Valdez said.

TESDA also has tie-ups with private corporations for apprenticeship of their scholars so that they can be immediately hired by these companies after graduation based on their performance.

For more information on the different training programs of TESDA and the list of requirements, interested individuals may visit www.tesda.gov.ph or their Facebook page at TESDA Region III. (PIA 3)