Expect the technical vocational programs of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to further improve next year.

This, as the agency implements more innovative programs to respond to the needs, demands, and expectations of the industry and learners.

In a statement, TESDA Director General Danilo P. Cruz said that the country’s technical vocational education and training (TVET) needs to be rebranded to improve its image or perception among young people, parents, and employers.

“TESDA needs to intensify the promotion of TVET as a viable path for post-secondary education,” he said.

TESDA is set to implement innovative programs, such as the nationwide roll-out of e-certificates, institutionalization of micro-credentialing and recognition of prior learning, and the possible integration of TESDA’s Registry of Certified Workers and Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) PhilJobNet.

It will also continue to pursue the establishment of innovation centers, the expansion of the TESDA Online Program (TOP), and the Enterprise-Based Training (EBT) Programs.

The agency said these programs are in support of the administration’s priority sectors, such as agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, transportation & logistics, health, IT-BPM, creative industries, energy, and construction.

“There is a challenge to pursue transformation for Philippine TVET to remain resilient, accessible, and inclusive. Everything must be digitalized and automated to keep up with the ever-changing requirements of the industries,” Cruz said.

He said that the agency will also establish a mechanism, together with the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Trade and Industry, that will provide job facilitation/technical assistance to TVET graduates.

“We’ll encourage more partnerships with organizations and other government agencies to contribute in improving the employability and working conditions of our graduates, and eventually help address the job-skills mismatch in the country,” Cruz said.