MARAWI CITY (PIA)—The Bangsamoro Government’s Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) is strengthening the public-private sector partnership to ensure better implementation of the technical vocational education and training (TVET) program for the Bangsamoro people.

The Education Ministry recently created the Regional Technical Education and Skills Development Committee (RTESDC) that shall oversee and ensure the public delivery of all skills development activities, including the partnership with private institutions in the region.

"Sa Committee na ito ay lalakas ang relationship ng dalawa both private and private sectors at alam natin kung ano ang mga skills training na dapat ma-produce ng TESD which are aligned sa needs ng mga establishments natin pagdating sa paghahanap ng trabahante," said TESD Director General Ruby Andong during the RTESDC’s first conference meeting.

Led by the industry sector, members of the committee representing the academe/education and labor, together with the different government agencies, gave their insights and policy recommendations that would lead towards improved access, relevance, and quality of TVET.

Committee members include representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR), Ministry of Labor and Employment (MOLE), Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), Ministry of Trade, Investments and Tourism (MTIT), MBHTE sub-sectors for Basic, Higher and Madaris Education, and other concerned stakeholders.

The said committee is supposed to encourage the active participation of different private businesses as direct participants and immediate beneficiaries of training and a skilled workforce in providing technical education and skill development opportunities.

Meanwhile, MBHTE-Basic Education Director-General Junn Abdullah Salik, Jr., emphasized the importance of harmonizing policies with that of the national, saying, "Tayo ang mag-dedesign at gagawa ng policies that is aligned din sa national. So far ang kailangan lang natin ngayong pag-usapan, anong mga provision doon sa national ang pwede nating i-retain at ano yung pwede nating idagdag para magswak doon sa context natin."

(We will design and create policies that are also aligned with the national one. So far, all we need to discuss now is what national provisions we can retain and what we can add to align them in our context)

The MBHTE-TESD’s plans for 2023 were also laid out for better partnership among the sectors involved. The committee further looked into the growing TVET opportunities in Tawi-Tawi and the province’s emerging industries. (BIO/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)