The government has allowed technical vocational schools in relaxed community quarantine areas to resume face-to-face training and competency assessments for outbound overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) at half of the venue capacity.

The decision on the vocational education classes for OFWs was issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Infectious Diseases (IATF) “as we move towards ingat buhay para sa hanapbuhay (ensuring public health for livelihood), according to presidential spokesman Harry Roque.

"Face-to-face trainings and assessments by Technical Vocational Institutions (TVIs) and TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) Technology Institutions (TTIs) for outbound overseas Filipino workers in areas under the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) or lower shall be permitted subject to compliance with TESDA Guidelines and minimum public health standards," he said.

Roque said allowing the in-person training forms part of the government's assistance to workers who already have employment opportunities.

"These include training and assessments for domestic work, caregiver, housekeeping qualifications, and ship’s catering," he added.

The latest IATF resolution No. 78 stated that the face-to-face competence assessment for TVET qualifications  may be allowed by the Department of Trade and Industry “up to 50% assessment site capacity” but must abide by health protocols. 

In June, the task force allowed TESDA to resume most of its training activities as the government eased the coronavirus lockdown. 

Face-to-face vocational education classes have been allowed up to 50 percent site capacity in areas under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ).

The partial operations, however, must ensure strict compliance with health protocols and TESDA guidelines as well as consultation with local government units.

For GCQ areas, the task force has allowed the resumption of online/e-learning training, distance learning for TVET programs, training programs related to agriculture and fishery for food production and processing, and e-learning component of blended learning for TVET programs.

Also allowed are dual training systems, enterprise-based training, and in-plant training in establishments allowed to operate under GCQ as well as virtual assessment and portfolio assessment through electronic means for certain TVET qualifications.