MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--Some 300 residents in Lanao del Sur province are ready to boost their livelihood as they obtain additional skills through technical and vocational education and training (TVET). 

This batch of trainees graduated altogether in a commencement ceremony led by the Bangsamoro government’s Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education-Technical Education and Skills Development (MBHTE-TESD) through its Lanao del Sur provincial office, TESD-accredited schools, and other partners. 

Among the skills training completed by the graduates were organic agriculture production, electrical installation and maintenance, driving, dressmaking, computer systems servicing, and bread and pastry production, which all bestowed national certificates (NC II), and agricultural crops production, which made graduates NC III holders. 

Apart from receiving their respective national certificates, allowances were also released to finishers through the training support fund provided by the Bangsamoro Scholarship Program for Technical Vocational and Education Training-Tulong ng Tekbok sa Pag-angat ng Bangsamoro (BSPTVET-TTPB).

MBHTE-TESD Lanao del Sur Provincial Director Asnawi Bato advised the tech-voc graduates to use the skills and knowledge they gained for the benefit of their fellowmen.

"Ang ating natutunan na skills, kung anumang kasanayan o qualifications, see to it that inyong magagamit sa kabutihan (The skills that we learned, whatever the training or qualifications, see to it that you will use them for good)," he said.

Bangsamoro Transition Authority’s Member of Parliament Jannat "Basit Abbas" Mimbantas highlighted the mass graduation of tech-voc trainees as a momentous happening because those who have graduated could already enjoy what they learned, and help others, their families, and their surroundings with the knowledge and skills they acquired. 

Personally witnessing the event, he expressed his happiness, saying that this was also a milestone attained during the advent of the Bangsamoro government. 

"We are happy that with the advent of the Bangsamoro government, many great things will happen. Many changes will prevail to reform our society," said Mimbantas.

Meanwhile, Association of Ranao Tech-Voc Institutions President Tohame Noor encouraged the tech-voc finishers to never waste the opportunity of completing their respective skills training, as a lot of citizens applied and wanted to be accepted by the Bangsamoro Scholarship Program, but they were the ones who had been chosen. 

"Since napili sila, sana pahalagahan nila iyon in a sense na lahat ng competencies na naituro namin sa kanila at national certificates ay magamit nila sa paghahanap ng trabaho at pagtatayo ng business, at sa abroad na rin," he said.

(Since they were chosen, may they give importance to this in the sense that all the competencies we taught them and the national certificate will be used in finding jobs, establishing businesses, and even when going abroad) 

Noor was likewise grateful for the trust given by the Bangsamoro government through the MBHTE-TESD Lanao del Sur Provincial Office, as they were able to help instill the skills in their fellow Maranaos. (CRG/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)