Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is urging Filipinos to take advantage of technical vocational education (tech-voc) scholarships the government has been offering through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
According to Philippines News Agency, President Marcos emphasized the importance of these scholarships during his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday. He addressed parents directly, encouraging them to seize the opportunity for their children to graduate from college or TESDA. "Mga magulang, sulitin na ninyo ang mga pagkakataong ito! Dahil hangad natin na sa lalong madaling panahon, ang bawat isang pamilyang Pilipino ay mayroong anak na nakapagtapos ng kolehiyo o sa TESDA," he stated.
Marcos highlighted the effectiveness of tech-voc education, which is now being integrated into the Senior High School curriculum. This integration allows students to choose from fields such as Bookkeeping, Agribusiness, Electrical, or Graphic Design while still in Senior High School. This approach aims to equip students with skills that enable them to seek employment immediately after graduation, with the possibility of obtaining national certifications (NC) II or III.
The President noted a significant increase in the number of TESDA scholars, with an additional 200,000 expected in 2024. He proudly mentioned that the Philippines ranks second in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in terms of youth enrollment in college and tech-voc programs.
Furthermore, President Marcos announced a budget allocation of almost PHP60 billion for free education in public colleges and tech-voc programs. TESDA reported that between January and December 2024, 1,151,595 tech-voc graduates applied for assessment, and 1,081,375 were certified as skilled workers. In 2023, over 1.2 million students graduated from tech-voc courses, with 872,016 receiving certification.
In his previous SONA, Marcos stated that eight out of ten TVET (technical and vocational education and training) graduates secured decent jobs, highlighting the success of these educational initiatives.
