MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) has earmarked more than P530 million to boost its technical-vocational (tech-voc) program.
Education Secretary Armin Luistro yesterday said the fund will be used in the construction of multi-purpose laboratory workshops in 282 DepEd-run tech-voc high schools all over the country.
Luistro allotted P535.19 million “intervention fund” to further strengthen the redesigned technical-vocational education program (STVEP) in terms of infrastructure and ability to provide subsidies that will allow graduates of tech-voc schools to get certification with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
He said the move aims to produce a new generation of highly skilled workers who are competent in the local and international job markets.
Of the P535.19-million budget, DepEd allocated P419.3 million to construct new laboratory workshops for each of the 282 tech-voc schools nationwide.
Tech-voc schools that specialize in arts and trade got the biggest share at P234 million, agriculture (P119.16 million) and fishery (P66.2 million).
“It is crucial to have enough laboratories and proper working areas so that students can experience the practical application of theories that they learn in school,” said Luistro.