DOT inks MOU on tourism education, training

TO UPGRADE tourism education and skills training in the country, the Department of Tourism (DOT) signed a memorandum of understanding or MOU with various government agencies.

DOT Secretary Bernadette Puyat said the MOU was signed recently with the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Tourism Industry Board Foundation, Inc. (TIBFI).

Puyat said the MOU marks an important milestone in Tourism Human Capital Development in the country because this will institutionalize the harmonization efforts of the government sector, the academe and the tourism industry.

“Through the signing of this MOU, we can work towards the strengthening of industry-led education and training, which will standardize academic and practical instructions with the end result of producing world-class tourism professionals,” Puyat said.

She said one of the MOU’s highlights is to have DepEd - through its K-to-12 Basic Education Program - introduce the technical and vocational education in public schools for junior and senior high school curricula, which includes tourism skills training.

Puyat noted the need for harmonization of tourism education and skills training toward its goal of honing students for the demands of the industry. “We hope that this convergence will pave the way to a seamless transition from Senior High School to Higher Education, ensuring that our students are ready when they enter the industry,” she said.

The MOU, she added, will also pave the way for strengthening collaboration among concerned agencies and the private sector in developing and promoting Education Tourism as one of the tourism product offerings of the Philippines under the National Tourism Development Plan 2016 to 2022, and support the implementation of the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Tourism Professionals.

Puyat stressed that the DOT shall implement and coordinate programs and projects to develop and enhance tourism manpower skills in the Philippines and strengthen linkages and partnerships between academe and industry. “With this MOU, you can count on the DOT to work tirelessly with other government agencies concerned and industry stakeholders in the development of agreed tourism industry training regulations,” she said. (With reports from Rhoderick Benez and Malou Cablinda.)

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