As part of its initiative for post-pandemic economic recovery, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is set to expand its online training program to cover more Filipinos.
TESDA on June 8 signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with The Asia Foundation to bring the Go Digital ASEAN initiative’s free digital skills training to more Filipinos.
Some courses of Go Digital ASEAN such as “Digital Tools for Job Seekers”, “Harnessing Social Media to Expand your Business”, and “Getting your Business Online” will be integrated to TESDA Online Program (TOP).
The Go Digital ASEAN initiative supports jobseekers and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) through online skills training. In particular, the trainings aim to close gaps in digital literacy skills necessary for navigating the online space and successfully securing employment opportunities.
The program also equips MSMEs with skills to digitize their enterprise and harness social media to expand their markets and customer base.
TESDA and The Asia Foundation shall also collaborate for the conduct of Training of Trainers of TESDA Technology Institution (TTI) trainers and conduct regular consultations to address emerging needs and concerns of the industry.
TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña said that through the partnership, the agency will be able to reach more people, especially the disadvantaged and provide them opportunities to improve their lives.
“Through this digital skilling program, we will be able to prepare our learners for the digital world, bridge the digital divide, and guide and equip our jobseekers with the tools and skills for e-commerce,” he said.
For his part, The Asia Foundation Deputy Country Representative in the Philippines Ethan Geary said that the partnership will help Filipinos increase their employability and secure sustainable livelihood by actively and effectively participating in the digital economy.
“This partnership culminates and institutionalizes efforts from Go Digital ASEAN and the TESDA to ensure digital inclusion for all Filipinos,” he said.
Data released by E-TESDA showed that there are now 3,008,838 registered users in the TOP since its launching in 2012 up to May 2021.