DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, May 18 (PIA) -- The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) together with the Negros Oriental Association of TVET Institutions (NOATI) highlighted the advantages of joining TESDA Skills Competition for both technical-vocational (tech-voc) learners and centers.
This came along with the invitation to other Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in the province to join the next TESDA Provincial Skills Training Competition.
Pursuant to Republic Act 7796, TESDA holds the National Skills Competition every year to recognize the skills excellence of young industry-skilled workers and graduates of TVET schools.
This competition is also carried out in the provincial then regional levels, respectively, where winners and industry experts will get an opportunity to compete at the national finals.
Both TESDA Provincial Director Joel Villagracia and NOATI President Dr. Delma of Metro Dumaguete College noted a low turnout in the participation of TVET schools during the provincial skills competition.
In 2022, only five Technical-Vocational Institutions (TVIs) joined the Provincial Skills Competition held in the city.
Villagracia identified other opportunities which learners and the TVET schools can gain by joining the competitions.
“Joining the Skills Competition is not only about winning but of course to use this standard to upgrade the curriculum, to upgrade how we implement the training programs for example sa restaurant service ang gigamit na standard is Switzerland. May standard ka na na pwede nato magamit na ma-align (sa programs) (for example in restaurant service, the standard that was used in the field is based from Switzerland. From there you, will have a standard that you can align with your program),” Villagracia said.
“It’s usually aligning the standard; (ang) pang-ASEAN na standard, (ang) pang - International na standard to your existing program. Kung kaya you can produce that quality (It’s really about aligning with the standard like the ASEAN-standard or international standard to your existing program. You can even produce that quality),” he added.
“We encourage the TVIs including the DepEd to participate in the Skills Competition. One advantage is that since skills Competition is nationwide, ila na i-publish or kumbaga (or provide) media mileage for the TVIs to gain exposure,” Manila said.
“Because of this skills competition, many international (institutions) in China, Japan, etc. they will call the school. They are very interested to partner with TVIs. In fact, we have one partnership ongoing with China,” she added.
Events like this help enhance the skills and knowledge of competitors and make them at par with industry standards which could also help them land a job or kick-start their own careers in the future.
Competitors who win the National Skills Competition will also be given the chance to represent the country in the bi-annual World Skills Competition held in different countries.
In 2021, three students from MDC clinched gold medals in the National Skills Competition and were given a chance to compete in the World Schools Competition.
They were Dreamerson Garay and Camia Faye Duran for Mobile Robotics and Jerson Villares for Floristry.
They were also set to represent the country in the World Skills Competition set in China that year but unfortunately, they were not able to go there due to travel restrictions as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
These skills competitions also showcase the various TESDA programs and competencies that are being implemented locally.
With this, the two officials hope that more schools will be enticed to participate in the TESDA Skills Training Competition.
Based on the data of NOATI, there are 40 TVIs in Negros Oriental that are affiliated with them. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)
