More collaboration with industries needed

MORE COLLABORATION with industries is needed to ensure that the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) graduates will meet actual requirements and demands, TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña said.

"These partnerships will also help facilitate possible employment of our graduates since our private partners will coordinate with local industry partners," Lapeña told the Philippine News Agency in an interview on Wednesday.

Last March 26, TESDA inked a memorandum of agreement with Pilmico Foods Corporation, and Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) to conduct series of webinars, and to implement enterprise-based programs, respectively.

Pilmico will conduct online seminars and not full training sessions like TESDA training centers do, Lapeña clarified. These webinars, which will run for a maximum of two hours per session, will be complemented with short, actual demonstrations.

Webinars shall be accessible by the general public as these will be streamed via TESDA’s official website and/or social media sites.

Lapeña said Pilmico will provide the calendar of activities and the topics to be discussed. It will also provide its own speaker.

This is not the first time that Pilmico has partnered with TESDA. In 2018, the two have partnered for the establishment of "Wooden Spoon", an innovation center for bread and pastry production at the TESDA complex in Bicutan, Taguig.

In 2019, Pilmico also provided scholarship grants and livelihood starter kits to eligible trainees in TESDA Women's Center.

Meanwhile, Lapeña said TESDA and PSFI's partnership on industry-based learning and skills development aims to improve the quality of human capital through skills development programs and facilitating job placements catering to the needs of industries in project sites.

Under this partnership, implementation of enterprise-based programs specifically on the Supervised Industry Learning (SIL) and Program on Accelerating Farm School Establishment (PAFSE) will be strengthened.

"SIL and PAFSE are programs which involve in-school and onsite training. For the SIL, the school partners with companies for the practical training of trainees. For PAFSE, farm owners are encouraged to register their farm as farm schools to provide practical training and livelihood in the community," he said.

PSFI will select and sponsor beneficiaries for inclusion in technical vocational training interventions; provide training kits, supplies and materials. It will also facilitate job placement and provide a ready market for the produce of the trainees under PAFSE; among others.

Even before this recent MOA signing, PSFI, together with TESDA Technology Institute - Puerto Princesa School of Arts and Trades have been implementing initiatives such as the conduct of community-based training programs for qualified beneficiaries in Palawan.

Lapeña commented that recent partnerships with Pilmico and PSFI are aligned with TESDA's direction to be more industry-driven and demand-driven. (By Ma. Cristina Arayata)