DepEd, Tesda push for better techvoc education at Southeast Asian forum

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) urged more support for technical vocational education and training (TVET) at a conference with Southeast Asian leaders.

Representatives from DepEd and Tesda took part at the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) at its forum held from November 21 to 22 to push for better quality in TVET programs across the region.

In a message to the summit read by DepEd Undersecretary Gina Gonong, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said, “It is our responsibility to raise the profile and prestige of TVET, it should not be undervalued and overlooked, but rather progressed and flourished alongside our formal academic system.”

DepEd cited “poor funding” and “the pressing need to improve the quality of graduates entering the workforce” as challenges to TVET education across Southeast Asia.

Meanwhile, in a video message to the forum, Tesda Director Jose Francisco Benitez said that “changing” the perception of technical vocational education as a viable career path “requires continued emphasis on the relevance, quality and impact of TVET on both individual success and the broader economy.”

READ: New Tesda chief to create ‘future-proof’ labor force

Day after assuming his post as Tesda Director last August, Benitez vowed to “create clearer pathways and opportunities for career development and continuing education programs.”

READ: DepEd, Tesda sign agreement TVET in SHS

Last May, DepEd and Tesda inked two agreements to integrate technical skills in the senior high school curriculum.

Themed “Shifting Mindset: Reshaping Youth Perception of TVET in Southeast Asia”, the SEAMEO forum discussed best practices and strategies as well as new technologies and artificial intelligence applications to enhance TVET.