MINDANAO TVET HELPS THE POOR (2nd of 2 Parts)

Even if Mindanao posted a relatively higher employment rate than the national average, it is ironic that there are also several provinces which have a higher number of poor families . More than half of our population at 57% are living below the poverty threshold. And in the past seven years, only Region X or Northern Mindanao was able to reduce its poor families by 4.9 percent

TVET Initiatives

Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) ensures that an individual has the technical skills and knowledge for gainful employment at the shortest time possible. All you need is to study from six months or two years, depending on your choice of skills training. Therefore, one does not have to waste money or time pursuing a four year college degree to be able to find a job; more so if one does not have ample financial resources. By taking a TVET course, one has the option to work and continue to go up the education ladder at his own pace. The Ladderized Education was introduced by both TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) and CHED ( Commission of Higher Education) early last year ; where one may opt to get a college degree by finishing one skills certificate at a time ; step by step ; until the highest rung of the ladder is reached. This is applicable for baccalaureate courses in Nursing, Hotel and Restaurant Management and Engineering.

Through TVET or the ladderize program, the children of poor family is able to help augment the meager family income through their new - learned skills and find work fast in many service companies, agriculture and manufacturing plants .

Priority Skills in Mindanao

There was a survey made among the different industries in Mindanao as to the kind of skills that were needed to sustain or bring about higher economic activities in different regions. This was done so TVET schools and institutions in each region will know what kind of training programs to offer to match the demands of industries.

The top 3 critical skills of Region 9 are in agriculture and fisheries, processed food and in construction; Region 10 is also in agriculture, construction and in the information/communication technology (ICT) arena . Topping the critical skills in Region 11 is ICT, agriculture and processed food and beverages; while Region 12 is in agriculture, land transport and tourism. CARAGA‘s needed skills is in furniture and furnishing, agriculture and construction while ARMM is in agriculture, construction and automotive.

In the general ranking, the top 5 critical skills in the entire island is still agriculture and fishery and that further strengthens Mindanao’s role as the food basket of the country. Followed by construction, processed food and beverages, ICT and Tourism.

This actually reflects the investment priorities of many regions in Mindanao. The cities of Davao, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Zamboanga are all positioning themselves as the prime tourism destinations as well as the ICT hub for call centers, transcription and the like. CARAGA remains as the region where you can find abundant wood for furniture. Skills pertaining to construction is a necessity since we know that progress and more business will bring about new buildings, roads and other infrastructure to support growth.

Partners in TVET

The Philippine Australian Human Resource Development Facility (PAHRDF) of Australian- Aid is an active partner of the Mindanao TVET Association MinTVET). This association is the biggest network of technical vocational schools association all over the island and is in the forefront of advocacy and bringing about positive changes and developments in TVET. Through the PAHRDF, the faculty members or teachers of TVET schools are given the opportunity to avail of both the short and long term scholarship to Australia. For this year, there were approximately ten (10) teachers who are now in Sydney taking up courses in Curriculum and Instructional Materials, School Management, Software Development and Metal and Fabrication. This will be an annual program between PAHRDF and MinTVET.

The Asian Development Bank is also one of the more active education donors in Mindanao working in collaboration with TESDA, CHED and the Mindanao Economic Development Council.

With this in mind, TVET is now being looked at with higher respect and TVET graduates are now able to stand proudly knowing that their skills certificate will be their key to success and prosperity.

For one thing, we must focus on the skills defined under the National Technical Education and Skills Development Plan 2005-2009 as these are the skills required by the companies. Let me present, therefore, the priority sector under the plan and the corresponding labor force requirements.

No	Sector	Total
1	Agriculture and Fishery	287,393
2	Construction	30,541
3	Processed Food and Beverages	29,928
4	Information Communications Technology	29,111
5	Tourism	14,459
6	Land Transport	8,812
7	Automotive	6,796
8	Furniture and Furnishings	4,057
9	Metals and Engineering	1,860
10	Mining	1,672

With the help of the government agencies through its scholarship programs like the Iskolar ng Mahirap sa Pamilya and other programs, we hope that Mindanao TVET is on the right track in helping the government improve the condition of the people of Mindanao.

(Joji Ilagan Bian is a strong and respected advocate for the development of the island. She is Chair of Joji Ilagan Foundation , Phil. Call Centers Alliance, Mindanao Tech Voc Schools Association; Mindanao Rep, Export Development Council. Email comments jojibian2@yahoo.com)