P500 million funding from DepEd to support tech-voc

A comprehensive guideline on the use of P535.19 million worth of intervention funds to further strengthen the redesigned Technical Vocational Education Programs (TVEP) in terms of infrastructure and capabilities has been released by the Department of Education (DepEd).

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said the release of this intervention fund is meant to produce a new generation of highly-skilled workers with the competencies and skills to be absorbed by both local and international job markets.

There are currently 282 DepEd-supervised technical vocational schools across the country.

DepEd, through its Tech-Voc Task Force Office, is implementing various intervention strategies including the allocation of funds for the construction of multi-purpose laboratory workshops, provision of competency assessment subsidy, capability-building program for tech-voc teachers, curriculum enhancement, and other tech-voc led activities.

DepEd has allocated P419.3 million to construct new multi-purpose laboratory workshops for each of the 282 tech-voc schools nationwide. Schools on arts and trade, totaling 156 schools got the biggest share at P234 million; agriculture was allotted P119.16 million for its 81 schools, and fishery will receive P66.2 million for its 45 schools.

The construction of new laboratory cum workshops will address the shortage of functional facilities, which is crucial in the application of acquired concepts. “It is crucial to have enough laboratories and proper working areas so that students can experience the practical application of theories that they learn in school,” said Luistro.

Meanwhile, the provision of competency assessment subsidy (CAS) is needed for the assessment of the competencies of the students in various areas of tech-voc specialization. The assessment subsidy for fourth year graduating students covers pre-assessment, supplies and materials, assessors’ fee, transportation allowance and other incidental expenses during assessment which is conducted by TESDA. The CAS allocation was pegged at some P57.4 million.

Luistro explained that a national certification level I or II or certificate of competency can be given to those who pass the assessment. “This serves as a license attesting to their technical capability and global competitiveness and therefore entitles them to become middle-level workers,” he added.

The capability program for teachers teaching 21 areas of specialization in arts and trades, agriculture and fishery was allocated some P20.8 million. It has two components. One is skills enhancement training and assessment where teachers expose themselves with the latest trends and technologies which they can impart to their students. The other is training and assessors’ methodology where participants who have completed the training program and have gone through the assessment process can become assessors themselves for other schools.

There are also the Tech-voc Task Force spearheaded capability-building programs which include the SEAMEO in-country training program, orientation for tech-voc administrators, benchmarking of best tech-voc related practices, strategies and models and semestral program performance review and planning. DepEd has set aside some P3.16 million for these activities.

Related to this, about P21.8 million was earmarked for curriculum development where some of the activities include a workshop on the integration and revision of the tech-voc curriculum in relation to the eventual implementation of the K to 12 program. The validated curriculum, which would also include instructional materials, will be printed and delivered to the 282 tech-voc schools.

Other Tech-voc Task Force-led operations/activities get some P12.5 million to cover various operational expenses.

Luistro pointed out that these guidelines shall serve as the basis for the allocation, release, utilization, and reporting of the use of intervention funds.

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