Increase fund for techvoc training programs, solon urges

MANILA, Philippines - A senior lawmaker is urging the bicameral conference committee that will tackle possible amendments to the P1.64 trillion General Appropriations Bill for 2011 to realign some funds for the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to ensure regular and better training programs. 

Laguna Rep. Justin Marc Chipeco, a member of the House committee on accounts, noted the lack of funds for the training of TESDA instructors, who should be extended the usual seminars and schooling to further boost the graduates of technical-vocational education in the country.

“I am appealing to all my colleagues to pour more resources for TESDA so that trainings of their instructors will remain a priority to enhance more their teaching skills for better technical-vocational graduates,” Chipeco said.

Under the GAB approved by the House last Monday, Chipeco noted the P2.85 billion budget for TESDA, of which P700 million is earmarked for the scholarship of some 65,000 students.

“This is far below the present year’s P5.6 billion funding. We need some augmentation,” he said.

TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva told reporters there is an urgent need for instructors nationwide to employ innovative approaches in training their students and help sustain and boost interest in technical-vocational education in the country.

Villanueva also vowed to continuously equip trainers of tech-voc education with appropriate tools so that they will become effective and quality trainers to their students, akin to degree holder professors in universities.

“I encourage all our trainers nationwide to employ out-of-the-box thinking in teaching. I have heard that some of them have tried creative ways and this is commendable…,” he said.