By Dhel Nazario
The Technical Education and Skills Development Program (TESDA) will expand the implementation of its Dual Training System and Dualized Training Program (DTS/DTP) for technical vocational education training (TVET) to help solve youth unemployment and skills gap problems.
(image from TESDA Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN)
DTS will be among the topics to be discussed at the “Industry Forum on DTS Implementation” in Pasay City this week which will be held in response to the published policy paper of the World Bank (WB). “Who Benefits from Dual Training Systems Evidence from the Philippines.”
In the paper, the author, Takiko Igarashi, WB education specialist, and Dr. Pablo Ariel Acosta, Ph.D, WB senior economist, noted the DTS delivery system can provide opportunities for the Filipino youth, especially those who are having difficulties in the academic subjects of basic education.
“The forum aims to create ways to encourage industries and discuss initiatives on how to expand the participation of stakeholders in the implementation of DTS in the county,” according to TESDA Deputy Director General for Partnerships and Linkages Rebecca J. Calzado.
The DTS, because of its practical training aspect, could be especially helpful to youths who have finished vocational training or high school.
Among those invited as speakers to the forum are Dr. Pablo Ariel Acosta and Dr. Alberto Fenix, Jr. from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).
The DTS is based on a German model wherein training is conducted in two venues, namely the school and its partner companies.
Under the DTS, the school and company will collaborate in designing the curriculum and other plans to respond to the needs of the firm. At least 40 percent of the training will done in-school and 60 percent will be provided by the company via in-plant training.
Republic Act 7686 (Dual Training System Act of 1994) was signed into law on February 25, 1994 by former President Fidel V. Ramos to enforce the Dual Training System as an instructional delivery system for TVET trainees.
There are 110 TVIs implementing DTS/DTP nationwide. Region III has the highest number with 56; Region lV-A, 21; and Region 9, 9.
The five areas with the highest number of companies that implement DTS/DTP are Tourism, 316; Electrical and Electronics, 233; Metals and Engineering, 89; Automotive and Land Transportation, 68; Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery, 40.
Since 2013 up to January-September 2018, there were 88,947 enrollees and 72,607 graduates under DTS/DTP.
The National Recognition for Exemplary Implementation of Dual Training System (DTS) will also be launched during the forum.