To upgrade the qualification of workers, trainers and assessors, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) is giving competency assessments and certifications to 60,000 Filipinos from August to December this year.
The agency’s National TVET Competency Assessment and Certification (NATCAC) Program will benefit trainers of public and private technical vocational institutions, public utility drivers, workers and other industry practitioners as well as returning overseas Filipino workers and Filipino expatriates.
The assessment and certification services will be offered nationwide, free of charge, but for this series, NATCAC will not include graduating students or trainees of various TESDA-registered programs.
The assessment will cover all qualifications in National Certificate II, III and IV levels, including those covered by specific government regulations such as Driving, Automotive Servicing and RAC Servicing (package-type air-conditioning).
The TESDA regional offices will select the qualifications to be covered during the schedules of assessment based on the market demand per region. The provincial offices, meanwhile, will prepare the final list of applicants per qualification, the assessment center, schedule and the assigned competency assessor.
The assessment centers will be also determined by the regional and provincial offices.
Meanwhile, TESDA marked its 19th anniversary yesterday (August 19) and is promoting technical vocational education and training (TVET).
“TVET will soon be incorporated into the new K to 12 curriculum because for some, it is the fastest route to gainful employment,” noted TESDA director general Joel Villanueva.
Today (August 20),  the agency is opening a Career Fair to selected 3rd year and 4th year high schools students to help them explore their career pathway through TVET.
On Friday (August 23), TESDA will award its industry partners and TVET Idols who popularized technical vocational education as well as its own outstanding employees. (EVA).

Source: Manila Bulletin - August 20, 2013