IT courses top Tesda offerings

Computer-related courses were among the top offerings that have drawn applicants in the assessment and certification conducted by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda). Its first run held in April had a total of 14,401 applicants certified out of the 22,675 who underwent assessment. It exceeded the 20,000 target nationwide under Tesda’s Natcac program or the National Technical Vocational Education Training Competency Assessment and Certification (Natcac). Returning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), workers, technical-vocational trainers, students and dependents of OFWs took part in the free competency assessment, where the OFWs got the highest certification rate of 83 percent. Computer hardware servicing topped the list of qualifications with the most number of applicants who were assessed at 4,035, followed by food and beverage services (2,892), housekeeping (2,471), programming (2,225), automotive servicing (1,928), electrical installation and maintenance (1,653), shielded metal arc welding (1,333), bread and pastry production (966), driving NC III (488), and driving NC II (410). Computer hardware servicing was also among the qualifications with the highest number of certified applicants at 64 percent (2,582 out of 4,035). All of those assessed for food processing (29), auto LPG (16), construction painting (100), baking and pastry production (13), photography (11), forklift operation (8) and gas metal arc welding (7) passed and received the certification. Carpentry registered 99-percent certification rate with only one of the 88 who underwent the assessment failing to get certified. Hairdressing had 98 percent, followed by horticulture (97 percent) and massage therapy (97 percent). Programming had the lowest certification rate of eight percent. “We may have the skills and have finished a tech-voc course, but this needs constant sharpening to make it at par with the demands of the times," Tesda director-general Joel Villanueva said. Villanueva noted the growing importance of acquiring the Tesda certification because it is slowly being made a requirement for employment by some companies and industries. “Being a Tesda certified worker means one has undergone the rigid training and assessment needed for the pool of skilled workforce by different corporations," he added. The variety of courses or qualifications offered by the Natcac program will also help Tesda determine the strength of the country’s skilled workers and areas for improvement, according to the Tesda chief. The first Natcac ran from March 28 to April 5 nationwide. Another batch of assessment and certification will be held within the year. — Newsbytes.ph