In the heart of the Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division of Taguig and Pateros (TaPat), a vibrant spirit of bayanihan thrives. This August 14, 2023, marked the commencement of Brigada Eskwela 2023 at Dr. Artemio Natividad Elementary School, igniting a powerful movement of community-driven progress.
Embracing the Spirit of Bayanihan
Under the banner of “Bayanihan Para sa Matatag na Paaralan,” this year’s theme resonates with the collective aspiration to forge a nurturing educational landscape. The true essence of bayanihan – the spirit of unity and cooperation – comes to life as the community unites to lay the foundation for a conducive learning environment.
Creating Resilient Learning Spaces
As students step back into the classrooms, the significance of well-maintained and resilient learning spaces cannot be underestimated. The Brigada Eskwela initiative stands as a testament to the unwavering commitment of community members, parents, teachers, and school leaders. Together, they work tirelessly to elevate and sustain school facilities, providing a rich backdrop for enhanced learning experiences.
Empowering Progress through Collaboration
Brigada Eskwela not only rejuvenates physical spaces but also fosters a sense of shared responsibility. Through this initiative, the community gains a tangible opportunity to actively contribute to the advancement of education. By joining forces, every individual becomes a participant in the journey towards a stronger educational foundation.
Be a Part of the Movement
Your support is crucial to the success of Brigada Eskwela 2023. If you wish to contribute or offer donations, please reach out to Ma. Eleanor C. Manalo at Dr. Artemio Natividad Elementary School, Brgy. Ususan Taguig City (Mobile number: +63 975 3584731). Your generosity will help us build a brighter future for the young minds of tomorrow.
Brigada Eskwela 2023 serves as a reminder that the essence of bayanihan remains deeply ingrained in our communities. Through collaborative efforts and a shared vision, we pave the way for educational excellence. Let’s join hands and continue nurturing an environment where learning flourishes, and unity fuels progress.
The beginning of a new school year is an exciting time for students as they embark on new learning adventures, but for us parents, it can be a season of stress and overwhelming responsibilities. One of the primary challenges that we face during this time is ensuring that our children have all the essentials they need for a successful school year. For me, sometimes, finding the right products can become a daunting task. However, there’s a smarter and more convenient way to tackle this annual back-to-school shopping frenzy – Amazon.
The Convenience of Back-to-School Shopping on Amazon
Amazon, the world’s largest online marketplace, has revolutionized the way we shop, and back-to-school season is no exception. With just a few clicks, parents can access a vast array of products, making it a one-stop-shop for all their back-to-school needs. Say goodbye to long queues and crowded stores; Amazon offers the ultimate shopping convenience for busy parents.
Top 10 Back-to-School Essentials on Amazon
To kickstart your back-to-school shopping, here are ten essential products available on Amazon that will ease the transition and set your kids up for a successful school year.
Durable Backpacks with Ergonomic Design. Sturdy backpacks designed to evenly distribute weight, reducing strain on children’s shoulders and backs, is crucial for carrying books and school supplies without discomfort.
High-Quality Stationery Sets. Comprehensive sets featuring pens, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, and more ensure that your children are well-equipped for note-taking and creative tasks.
Reliable Scientific Calculators. Advanced calculators suitable for older students’ complex mathematical needs are perfect for high schoolers and college-bound students taking advanced math courses.
Organizational Planners and Notebooks. Planners and notebooks with sections for class schedules, assignments, and personal notes help the kiddos stay organized and productive throughout the school year.
Noise-Canceling Headphones. Headphones that minimize distractions during study sessions or online classes are ideal for creating a focused learning environment, especially in busy households.
Comfortable Desk Chairs. Ergonomic chairs with proper lumbar support promote good posture and prevents discomfort during long study hours.
USB Drives. High-capacity USB drives for storing and transferring important digital files ensure that your child’s schoolwork is always accessible and backed up securely.
Interactive Educational Globes. Interactive globes spark curiosity and help children understand geography, countries, and cultures in an immersive way. It’s a fantastic addition to any home or classroom.
Inspiring Educational Posters. Colorful and informative posters for decorating study spaces enhance the learning environment and make studying more engaging.
While this list gives you an idea of what to secure for your children this back-to-school season, be sure to keep an eye out for other back-to-school deals on Amazon which can save you some money.
Back-to-school shopping doesn’t have to be stressful; Amazon simplifies the process and offers an extensive selection of essential products for your children’s educational journey. The convenience and variety of products on Amazon will make this back-to-school season a breeze. Embrace the ease of online shopping, and ensure your children have all they need to excel academically and enjoy their learning experience to the fullest!
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Sun Life, a leading financial services company, has been making significant strides in various areas, from empowering its advisors to promoting sustainability and making a positive impact in communities. Through a series of recent accomplishments, Sun Life has showcased its commitment to excellence, innovation, and social responsibility.
Empowering Advisors for Success
Over 200 Sun Life Advisors Conferred with Wealth Planner Designations by Wealth Management Center
Sun Life’s dedication to empowering its advisors and providing them with the necessary skills and knowledge is exemplified by the recent conferment of Associate Wealth Planner and Certified Wealth Planner designations to over 200 advisors. Through a comprehensive learning program in partnership with the Wealth Management Center (WMC), Sun Life advisors received extensive training in life insurance planning, investment planning, risk management, healthcare, and estate planning. The program emphasized the practical application of knowledge through discussions centered around real-life cases and examinations after each module. By upskilling its advisors, especially those specializing in high-net-worth business, Sun Life ensures that its clients receive expert guidance and exceptional service.
Promoting Financial Security and Sustainability
RCBC Diskartech relaunches voucher promo for availing Sun Life Grepa insurance
In collaboration with RCBC Diskartech, Sun Life is driving accessibility and affordability in life insurance by offering shopping vouchers to new and existing Diskartech users who avail of Sun Life Grepa insurance products. This promo encourages more Filipinos to protect their financial future while providing them with convenient rewards. By combining the power of technology and insurance, Sun Life aims to make life protection packages easily attainable and manageable for individuals and their families. Through this initiative, Sun Life promotes financial security while fostering a culture of inclusivity and innovation.
Investing in a Sustainable Future
Build a sustainable future with Sun Life Grepa’s newest fund
Sun Life Grepa Financial, Inc. takes a significant step towards sustainable investing by launching the SLG Peso Global Sustainability Growth Fund. This sustainability-driven VUL equity fund focuses on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors and aims to generate long-term capital appreciation. By investing in global funds that integrate ESG principles, Sun Life Grepa offers investors an opportunity to align their investments with their values. The fund not only delivers financial returns but also contributes to the building of a more sustainable future. Sun Life Grepa’s commitment to sustainable investing reflects its dedication to helping clients achieve lifetime financial security while making a positive impact on society and the environment.
Those interested to avail of the SLG Peso Global Sustainability Growth Fund can contact their Sun Life Grepa Advisor, visit any Sun Life Grepa or RCBC branch, or email wecare@sunlifegrepa.com.
Enriching Lives through Corporate Social Responsibility
Rides for School: Sun Life Foundation donates bikes to school kids
The Sun Life Foundation, in collaboration with Good Neighbors International Philippines (GNIP), demonstrates its commitment to improving communities by donating bicycles to school children in remote areas. These bicycles benefit students who face long and challenging journeys to school. By providing the means of transportation, Sun Life Foundation enables these students to reach school faster, saving time and energy for studying and personal growth. Additionally, the Foundation organized a Sun Life Cycle PH Kids’ Bike Camp, where the recipients learned bike skills, received safety tips, and had the opportunity to ride their new bikes. Sun Life Foundation’s dedication to creating a brighter future extends beyond financial services and contributes to the holistic development of individuals and communities.
Recognitions and Leadership
Sun Life Bags Employer Brand Award and Two HR Chief Accolades
Sun Life’s commitment to its employees and fostering a positive work environment has been recognized with the company being named one of the Philippines’ Best Employer Brands of 2023-2024 at the Employer Branding Awards. Michelle Cordero-Garcia, Sun Life’s Chief Human Resources Officer, also received accolades as one of the Top Most HR Leaders of 2023 and as one of the Philippines’ Woman Leaders. These acknowledgments affirm Sun Life’s dedication to creating a caring and inclusive company culture, attracting top talent, and fostering an environment where employees can thrive. The company’s commitment to its workforce is evident in its mission of helping clients achieve financial security and live healthier lives, making Sun Life a true leader in the industry.
Sun Life’s recent achievements in empowering advisors, promoting sustainability, making a difference in communities, and being recognized for its outstanding employer brand and HR leadership underscore the company’s commitment to excellence and social responsibility. With a focus on employee well-being, sustainable investing, community development, and exceptional leadership, Sun Life is shaping a brighter future for its stakeholders. Through its continued dedication and innovation, Sun Life is poised to make a lasting impact on the lives of Filipinos and beyond.
Details provided in recent press releases from Sun Life.
Do you sometimes get the feeling that you’re in a financial rut? When you feel overwhelmed with bills and debts, or short on funds? Or when you worry about what you will leave behind for your kids?
It may be time for a financial reset.
In a recent leg of Sun Talks, Sun Life’s series of talks on financial wisdom, Cluster Head Valerie Lagarde-Amora and Financial Advisor Andrea de Guzman provided attendees with pertinent knowledge and stories on how to do just that.
During the session, I learned that taking control of your finances and embarking on a journey towards financial success can be quite a transformative step. Whether you’re starting from scratch or seeking to realign your financial goals, restarting your financial journey is possible at any stage of life.
Getting Ready
As the initial phase of the financial journey, this is the time to assess your current financial situation and lay a solid foundation for future success.
Take stock of your income, expenses, debt, and assets. This self-assessment will provide clarity on where you stand financially.
Set realistic financial goals. Whether it’s paying off debt, saving for a down payment, or creating an emergency fund, clear goals will serve as a roadmap for your journey.
Create a budget and track your spending. A budget helps you allocate your resources effectively and identify areas where you can cut back and save.
Build healthy habits. Now is also the time to establish patterns of behavior that will keep you fit and healthy for life such as a sustainable exercise routine and a balanced diet.
Sun Life Cluster Head Valerie Lagarde-Amora
Sun Life Financial Advisor Andrea de Guzman
Moving Up
When you’re at this stage of progress and growth, you should strive to increase your income, build wealth, and improve your financial standing.
Enhance your earning potential. This is the time to go after opportunities for career advancement or consider pursuing additional education .
Develop a savings plan and establish an emergency fund. Having a financial safety net allows you to navigate unexpected expenses without derailing your progress.
Reduce debt and manage credit effectively. Prioritize paying off high-interest debts and explore options for consolidating or refinancing to ease your financial burden.
Engage in estate planning. Creating wills, establishing trusts, and designating beneficiaries ensure that your assets are distributed according to your wishes.
Review and adjust your investment portfolio to align with your long-term goals. Regularly assess your risk tolerance and make informed decisions based on market conditions and changes in your financial situation.
Leaving a Legacy
By focusing on preserving the value of your wealth that you have accumulated over the years and safeguarding your loved ones from costly estate taxes and fees, you can leave a lasting legacy that truly benefits future generations.
Create a comprehensive estate plan that maximizes the value of your assets. Working with estate planning professionals, such as lawyers or financial advisors, can help you navigate complex tax laws and ensure your assets are distributed efficiently.
Consider life insurance as a way to provide financial security for your beneficiaries. Life insurance policies can cover estate taxes, funeral expenses, and provide a financial cushion for your loved ones in your absence.
Regularly review and update your estate plan to reflect changes in your financial situation, family dynamics, or tax laws. By staying proactive, you can ensure that your legacy plan remains aligned with your goals and current circumstances.
The key is to restarting your financial journey is to take action and start today. Regardless of the stage you find yourself in, doing so will pave the way for a brighter financial future. Empower yourself with knowledge, stay committed to your goals, and adapt as circumstances change. Also, remember that seeking professional advice can provide invaluable support along the way.
The Sun Talks on “Restarting Your Financial Journey” has illustrated that undergoing a financial reset may not be easy, but the rewards are worth it. Embrace the opportunity to regain control, achieve financial success, and build a solid foundation for the future. Your financial journey starts now—make the decision to take that first step towards a brighter financial future.
Want to get started on journey towards a better financial future. Check out Sun Life’s life insurance products by consulting a Sun Life advisor or visiting its website.
Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing asset management, wealth, insurance and health solutions to individual and institutional Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of December 31, 2022, Sun Life had total assets under management of CAD 1.33 trillion. For more information, please visit http://www.sunlife.com.
Sun Life Philippines (Sun Life), the country’s leading life insurance company for 12 consecutive years, has renewed its strategic partnership with Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart). The aim of this partnership is to enhance financial literacy among cooperatives affiliated with Smart.
Expanding the Program’s Coverage
The renewed partnership between Sun Life and Smart will broaden the program’s reach by conducting financial literacy trainings for cooperatives in various locations, including Benguet, Bulacan, Cavite, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, and Metro Manila throughout the year. This expansion seeks to empower more cooperative members by providing them with essential knowledge about finance and its relevance to their industry.
Building on Previous Success
Sun Life and Smart are committed to surpassing the achievements of the program in 2022. Last year, the initiative successfully engaged and educated nearly 500 cooperative members on finance fundamentals. The partners aim to build on this momentum and continue empowering Filipinos to pursue their financial goals.
Advocating Financial Literacy
Sun Life has always been a strong advocate of financial literacy, recognizing its crucial role in leading individuals to a brighter life. With the renewal of the partnership with Smart, Sun Life President Alex Narciso believes they can further elevate their efforts and empower more Filipinos to achieve financial independence.
“Sun Life has always been a staunch advocate of financial literacy as we believe it plays a key role in achieving a brighter life. We are always looking for ways to elevate our efforts and help empower even more Filipinos to pursue their financial goals. I believe the renewal of our tie-up with Smart can help us do that,” Sun Life President Alex Narciso said.
Empowering Cooperatives through Financial Literacy
Cooperatives play a vital role in their respective communities and contribute significantly to the country’s economy. Recognizing their importance, Smart is committed to empowering these cooperatives through financial literacy and digitalization. By renewing its partnership with Sun Life, Smart reaffirms its commitment to supporting its partner cooperatives and providing them with relevant solutions.
“Given the key role that cooperatives play in their respective communities and in our country’s economy as a whole, it is important to empower them through financial literacy and digitalization. Through the renewal of this partnership with Sun Life, we are doubling down on our commitment to support our partner cooperatives and help provide them with relevant solutions,” FVP and Group Head of Smart Go-To Market and Subscriber Management Melvin Nubla said.
Joining Forces for Financial Empowerment
The collaboration between Sun Life and Smart represents a collective effort to promote financial literacy and empower Filipinos in their journey toward financial independence. As part of this endeavor, Sun Life encourages individuals to stay updated on the program and other initiatives by following @SunLifePH on social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. To learn more about Sun Life and its products, visit its website at www.sunlife.com.ph.
Sun Life Financial-Philippines Foundation, Inc. (Sun Life Foundation), the philanthropic arm of Sun Life Philippines, and Save the Children Philippines have joined forces to launch “Project SUNBRIGHT.” This initiative aims to reduce and prevent malnutrition among children and pregnant or lactating mothers by promoting exclusive and appropriate complementary feeding.
Project SUNBRIGHT is set to benefit 600 individuals in Muntinlupa City, including parents with infants or children under two years old, teenage mothers, caregivers, health service providers, and pregnant and lactating women. The project’s objective is to determine the causes of undernutrition among these groups and prevent them by promoting optimal “Infant & Young Child Feeding” (IYCF) practices, capacity-building of health service providers, and using Socio-Behavioral Change Communication (SBCC) strategies.
Sun Life Foundation officers handed over the giant check donation to Save the Children for “Project SUNBRIGHT” during the recent signing of the memorandum of agreement
Empowering the Community through Advocacy
Through Project SUNBRIGHT, community groups among pregnant/lactating women and other stakeholders will be strengthened to promote IYCF. The project aims to enhance existing efforts to promote breastfeeding among beneficiaries who have children of breastfeeding age to minimize or eliminate malnutrition among Filipino children.
Lourdes Pambid, Program Manager for Urban Health and Nutrition of Save the Children Philippines, expressed her gratitude for the partnership. “Working with the Sun Life Foundation for this project has been truly fruitful and productive. They are very receptive of the project’s goals and have strong support for civil societies. Through this collaboration, we are able to provide a wide array of interventions that promote breastfeeding as well as enhance existing efforts through strong advocacy of the practice,” Pambid concluded.
Education and Awareness
Project SUNBRIGHT aims to bolster existing efforts in publicizing nutrition concepts and programs that prevent or reduce undernutrition through an education drive that will train participants on Republic Act No. 11148 or the “Kalusugan at Nutrisyon ng Mag-Nanay Act,” maternal, newborn, infant, and young child nutrition, Kangaroo Mother Care, essential intrapartum and newborn care, and management of moderate to severe acute malnutrition.
Sun Life Foundation’s Efforts to Promote Health and Well-being
Kristine Dianne Millete, Executive Director of the Sun Life Foundation, emphasized that the initiative is anchored on “Health,” one of the organization’s pillars. She added, “The Sun Life Foundation is proud to have Save the Children as our implementing partner in this important endeavor to promote health and nutrition for mothers rearing up their babies. With this collaboration, we look forward to enhancing existing efforts to promote breastfeeding among the beneficiaries who have children of breastfeeding age in an effort to minimize or altogether eliminate malnutrition among Filipino children.”
Aside from Project SUNBRIGHT, the Sun Life Foundation continues to work with various organizations to promote health among its beneficiaries. One notable initiative is the Sun Life Barangay Health Stations, which provide basic healthcare in remote areas.
About Sun Life
Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individual and corporate Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of December 31, 2022, Sun Life had total assets under management of CAD1.33 trillion. For more information, please visit http://www.sunlife.com.
Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.
Where your child goes to school is a big decision and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Given how their education can impact their future, you might be tempted to take control and decide for them. However, you might be doing more damage than helping them in the long run.
Your job as parents is to support them throughout the process so they can choose their path and find an educational institution that will not only make them happy, but also bring out the best in them as they prepare for real life. Here are helpful ways you can help determine the best school for your child without going overboard:
Create a list of school options with your child. If your child doesn’t have a particular dream school, you should help them gauge their choices by brainstorming with them. It’s vital that you take time to listen and understand what your child needs and wants.
For instance, if your child is an independent learner who learns best at his own pace, he might do better in a Montessori school. If your child responds better in a structured teaching style, then a traditional school might be best for him. Keep an open mind and decide on what will give your child what he needs.
Visit school campuses with your child. Some academic institutions have impressive websites with carefully curated photos, but in reality, the school leaves much to be desired. Instead of relying on brochures and the internet, take time to visit school campuses with your kid.
Schools are open to tours. You just need to schedule your visit in advance unless you’re an alumnus of that institution and have access to the grounds. You and your child can get a feel of the campus atmosphere to determine if it’s the right fit.
Provide guidance and support. While your child should have a say on where they will study, you should give them guidance based on pros and cons, and what you know about the school options. Choosing a school is a big decision and might cause anxiety for your child, so it’s best to be there for them.
The best way to provide emotional support is by actively listening to them. You should make your child feel comfortable about discussing their options and fears. Listen to understand where they’re coming from so you can help them make the right choice.
Prepare financially as soon as possible. Tuition fees are very expensive, especially with rising inflation so you need to prepare and be ready to provide for your child’s education. This way, you will be able to provide the best education for them.
Once you have made your choice for your child’s primary education, it is time to think ahead and prepare for the next big educational expense: college. You can save up on your own, or you can get AIA Philippines’ Future Scholar, an insurance product that gives guaranteed cash payouts that can help pay for your child’s tertiary education. Whatever happens, you’re confident your child will be able to get the college education that you envisioned.
Future Scholar doesn’t just help you afford costly school expenses. Aside from guaranteed savings, Future Scholar has an investment component so you can look out for your child financially even after they graduate from college. Moreover, you can choose to build your child’s education funds in five years or until the child reaches the age of 17. Should you decide not to use the funds for educational expenses, it can also be used for other big expenses in the future like buying a car or post graduate studies abroad.
In addition, Future Scholar gives you peace of mind. Whatever happens, your child will have money set aside for his future needs. Aside from that, your child or your chosen beneficiary can also be entitled to an additional lump-sum cash benefit should anything untoward happen to you.
“We know that the pandemic and the volatile economy has made everyone insecure about their savings. As a parent myself, I understand every parent’s desire to ensure that there are guaranteed benefits intended for their child’s future,” said Tennyson Paras, AIA Philippines’ Head of Products. “And this is what we had in mind when our Products Team designed AIA Future Scholar. We wanted to make sure that no matter what happens, a healthier, longer and better life awaits our children.”
If you want to know more about AIA Future Scholar and how it can help you guarantee savings for your child’s future needs, click here.
Details and images provided in a recent press release.
Tech-voc professionals should be regarded as graduates with equal opportunity, job security, professional status, and recognition in our society that professionals of four-year higher education programs currently enjoy.
It’s around that time of the year again when a fresh batch of new college graduates join the workforce.
For many of these graduates, after studying and struggling for years to earn their degree, a tough road lies ahead before they land their first job. If they’re lucky, they will be able to find work that aligns with their interests and the degree they worked so hard to attain. If they are not so lucky, they may find themselves in jobs that are not related to their degree, are underpaid for the jobs that they do have, or worse, have no job at all.
In a recent report on in-demand jobs in the country, IT/Computer Software, Clerical/Administrative Support, IT/Network/System/Database and General Work are among the top specializations that are being hired. In a separate salary survey, on the other hand, Computer/IT, Services, Manufacturing and Building/Construction are among those with the highest salaries for entry-level positions.
These are jobs that the new members of the workforce could have been prepared for by a technical-vocational education.
An unpopular choice
Unfortunately, tech-voc education has rarely been a first choice among high school graduates in the country. This may be due to the perceived lack of glamor or prestige of pursuing further education in the tech-voc sphere compared to a university degree, or the erroneous impression that workers in this field lack of job security or professional status compared to their peers who took university courses. Also coming into play may be the existing bias that only the ‘bobo’ enroll in these courses.
Whatever the reason, many members of our workforce are being denied employment opportunities and productive careers simply because they did not opt to pursue education in the tech-voc field.
This is such as shame because our technical-vocational institutes (TVI), if managed and monitored well, are fully capable of producing world-class and skilled graduates at par with those of our neighboring countries. Tech-voc graduates perform key roles in various industries both local and abroad. A job-ready and globally competitive batch of tech-voc graduates joining the workforce can also greatly contribute to the national income and economy.
To get to this stage, we as a country need to place importance in the possibilities offered by the technical field in providing a decent and productive life to our citizens.
Existing Philippine Qualification Framework and Ladderized Program Law
A need to revise our framework
You will notice that our highly-industrialized Asian neighbors like Japan, Singapore, and Korea have made necessary adjustments in their educational system, with particular focus on academic excellence and technology innovation. By placing emphasis on citizens becoming productive and contributing members to their national economy, these heavily invested in technical training.
A local proponent for tech-voc education is Ayala Corporation CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala. According to him, a vocational or technical degree should be given a prominent position in our country’s educational framework. Expanding its curriculum and significantly improving its accreditation status will help produce young graduates equipped with the specific skills that match the requirements of the job market.
The TVET PQF NC’s is in need of a specific title for learners’ perspective to the industry or employers for clear and better recognition.
The Philippines has two main government agencies tasked in providing basic education in the country: DepEd (Department of Education) for the academics and TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) which is in charge facilitating quality technical education and skills development. Ideally, these two should complement each other, with no overlapping of roles that could result in conflicts during the implementation of their programs.
However, with the implementation of the K-12 curriculum, some of TESDA’s resources have been acquired by DepEd due to the need for technical experts to handle the tech-voc curriculum.
Both esteemed educators such as University of the Philippines professor, Clarita Carlos and government administrators like Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia have cited the sorry state of tech-voc education in the Philippines and made appeals to DepEd and TESDA to focus on their respective mandates, namely basic education and in the students’ academic performances for DEPED and technical skills formation for TESDA.
An expanded role for TESDA
TESDA needs to take on the complete responsibility for technical and vocational training as a distinct and separate agency from DOLE, DTI and DepEd, with a scope beyond merely providing technical instructions and training. Its purview should include thorough skills assessment to meet globally-competitive criteria, and granting professional license to successful graduates to elevate their status to professional practitioners of their chosen skill.
As the final “quality control” check before graduation and the practice of their profession, passing the licensure exam becomes a mark of pride and achievement for the graduates, a basis for demanding a higher salary and compensation for their services and an undeniable proof of their parity with the technical graduates of progressive countries.
Licensure examination is but one wheel in the big cog of Philippine Qualifications Framework which supposedly sets multiple criteria to measure the quality assurance principles and standards of the Filipino professional, technician and craftsman.
Trifocal education system with the implementation of K-12 has totally diminished the quality skills training for TVET.
Performing this mandate would require TESDA to review and rescan its current services and offers in order to attract enrollees and be an effective government agency for manpower development.
To do this, it is proposed that TESDA curriculum be organized in two tracks that serve different purposes and will be monitored accordingly:
Product-Oriented Track
Service-Oriented Track
No pre-requisite
Pre-requisite: HS graduate
Only product quality control
Customer and Practitioner’s Protection Service
Do not require higher academic achievement
Service-Oriented professions are measured by quality of service thru customer satisfaction
This is measured only through quality control
It promotes respect, prestige and protection to the client and also the practitioner
Product-oriented tracks may be in the form of cottage industries and are designed to provide livelihood opportunities at the barangay level to folks such as stay-at-home moms, out-of-school youths, drug dependents, seniors/retirees, jobless folks, and surrenderees, with TESDA providing the necessary tools and materials as well as equipment for this skill training. Some of these are:
Livelihood tracks aims to provide skills training to its target beneficiaries, to engage them in livelihood projects that are income generating
The Service Oriented Sector/Industry, on the other hand, are professional tracks that go beyond a simple trade, and are identified by specific specialization based on the industry qualification. These will require a high school diploma as a basic requirement. These include the following:
Only by professionalizing all Service Oriented Tech-Voc Courses will uplift the image of techvoc students, graduates and practitioners in the country.
Giving TESDA a free rein as well as an expanded role will help it perform its main mandate faster and more efficiently to address current joblessness and lack of experts in vocational and technical skills and to uplift the status of tech-voc in the Philippines.
Now that the country is entering the COVID-19 recovery phase, opportunities abound for smart investment in tech-voc education and training to “build back better” programs and systems. These may also cater to students who dropped out during school closures and reskill or upskill those who have become unemployed.
To greatly improve employability and professional development of tech-voc students, focus must be given to developing their foundational cognitive and socioemotional skills, such as empathy and resilience, while investing in learning technology and digital skills of tech-voc instructors.
In conclusion, if TVETs are compliant with global standards and are at par with similar institutions of our Asian neighbors, the “Filipino Diaspora” will be minimized because tech-voc graduates are capable of getting better-paying jobs locally or establish their own enterprises without leaving the country.
The state of tech-voc in the Philippines must be reshaped in such a way that the skills and training competencies are given priorities to attain job-readiness of workers as well as uplift our skilled workers as licensed professionals.
To this end, while TESDA should be independent from other government agencies in providing technical-vocational training and education, it can be greatly helped by agencies like DepEd with its focus on the basic education of children, as well as DOLE and DTI in providing employment assistance and livelihood programs to tech-voc graduates.
Young Filipinos who wish to lead productive lives can look forward to brighter and more productive futures with the tech-voc track, provided they are given the proper incentives, multisectoral support and a supportive policy environment.
With the government, industry and the academe working together in strengthening the country’s tech-voc ecosystem and reinforcing the knowledge that the “Pinoy tech-voc ay hindi bobo,” a career in this field will become a promising path for our future graduates.
High-capacity USB drives for storing and transferring important digital files ensure that your child’s schoolwork is always accessible and backed up securely.
Jellybeans in the City 