The distribution of starter toolkits for scholars of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) may resume in the National Capital Region (NCR) and other regions of the country early this year.
This was after TESDA-NCR inspected on Monday the delivered six lots of toolkits for the 2019 beneficiaries of the agency’s Special Training for Employment Program (STEP). This is part of the total 18 lots intended for the region in 2019.
The inspection of the toolkits was jointly conducted by the representatives of the Philippine International Trading Corporation (PITC) and TESDA-NCR District Offices, witnessed by representatives from the Commission on Audit (COA).
The delivered lots include 5,155 toolkit packages for graduates of courses such as Perform Body Massage, Perform Body Scrub, Perform Facial Make-up, Electrical Installation and Maintenance NC II, Pastry Making, and Cake Making.
These toolkits are part of a total of 51,205 packages for 2019 STEP beneficiaries that are scheduled to be delivered to different regions of the country from January 4 to February 6, 2021.
TESDA said that the PITC implemented the procurement of the toolkits and has awarded the contracts for the procurement of 60 out of 71 lots of toolkits for the 2019 STEP scholars. The remaining 11 lots are currently undergoing the process for the post qualification of suppliers.
“We will work closely with PITC so that the remaining packages of STEP toolkits will meet the targeted delivery dates. We are aware that there are so many TESDA graduates waiting for their starter toolkits to arrive, and we are doing our best to make sure all pending toolkits will be processed accordingly,” TESDA chief Secretary Isidro Lapena said.
The STEP and UAQTEA are among TESDA’s scholarship programs that aim to provide free quality technical vocational education and training to deserving beneficiaries in the country.