By Dhel Nazario
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Online Program (TOP) has received a huge influx of enrollees for its free online courses.
Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) (MANILA BULLETIN)
From March 16 to March 29, a total of 19,598 enrollees have signed up to learn about the various courses or training modules under the TOP.
It can be recalled that on March 16, TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña encouraged Filipinos to visit the e-TESDA site and enroll in various courses to make good use of their time while mobility is restricted in Luzon.
A daily average of 1,399 new users have been registering to TOP since then.
Out of the total enrollees, 14,602 are new to the program, while the rest are old or returning users or registrants.
When asked why they registered in the Agency’s online program during this period, 67 percent (13,170) of the enrolled users said that they are accessing the TOP due to the COVID-19 community quarantine.
The TOP offers 68 online training courses in the platform, categorized under several sectors. Among the top sectors being picked by the enrollees are: Electrical and Electronics with 3,231 enrollees, Tourism with 2,547 enrollees, Entrepreneurship with 2,541 enrollees, Information and Communications Technology with 2,104 enrollees, and 21st Century Skills with 1,656 enrollees.
“We hope that more of our kababayan will take this opportunity. Being free and accessible, one does not have to pay for any registration or enrollment fees, unlike other online courses. This is also a good time to enroll since the government is asking the public to stay home while we are fighting the spread of COVID-19,” Lapeña said.
Aside from top sectors mentioned, interested individuals may also access courses on Automotive, Agriculture, Human Health/Health Care, TVET, Lifelong Learning Skills, Heating, Ventilation, and Air Condition, Processed Food and Beverages, Maritime, and Social Community Development and Other Services in the TOP platform.
Learners, after undergoing online activities and passing the quizzes, may download Certificates of Completion as proof that they finished the online course. Training completers may go to any TESDA office closest to their area for assessment and certification once the enhanced community quarantine has been lifted should they wish to be certified as skilled learners. They can make use of the Certificate from TOP as a passport for National Competency Assessment.
“We assure our kababayan that this online program is a good channel for them to be productive inside their homes, while our frontliners and our government continue to secure the communities from harm brought by COVID-19,” Lapeña added.
Some of the short courses include Basic Computer Education, Setting Up Computer Networks, Solar Night Light Assembly, Preparing Cakes, Preparing Meat Dishes, Food Processing, among many others.
The TESDA Online Program has now accumulated a total of 1,469,375 registered users since it was launched in 2012. The TOP website, www-e-tesda.gov.ph can also be accessed through the TESDA App, downloadable from Google Play and Apple Store.