Taguig City: The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Council have taken a significant step towards enhancing the early childhood care workforce by signing a Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) aimed at professionalizing child development workers.
According to Philippines News Agency, the signing event took place in Taguig City, where TESDA Secretary Francisco Benitez emphasized the government's dedication to education reform. He highlighted the essential role that child development workers play in shaping the early years of children, stating that investing in their professional growth is crucial for strengthening the foundation of lifelong learning, community development, and national progress.
The collaboration between TESDA and the ECCD Council reinforces the government's commitment to professionalizing the workforce involved in early childhood care and aims to enhance foundational learning for Filipino children. The JMC provides operational guidelines for a scholarship program designed to give qualified child development workers access to free training, competency assessments, and certification under the ECCD Services National Certificate III.
Benitez expressed pride in the partnership, describing it as a cornerstone in the shared vision to establish a strong, resilient, and skilled ECCD workforce. He acknowledged the dedication of child development workers who have long served on the frontlines of early childhood development and stressed the importance of opening new opportunities for them.
TESDA will spearhead the development of competency standards, the training and certification of trainers, the registration of ECCD Services NC III programs to be offered by training providers, and the certification of child development workers. Meanwhile, the ECCD Council will play a role in validating the eligibility of these workers, promoting the program nationwide, and coordinating with local government units to ensure proper placement and support for scholars.
