Pinoy Tech Voc: Role of Technical Vocational Institutions (TVI) in K-12
The purpose of the K-12 is to elevate basic education to a globally competitive level and benefit our children.
Did it benefit our students?
Did we produce globally competitive graduates?
Time for the Philippines to change Technical Vocational Education and Training structure and adapt higher non-traditional and age-old techniques for better tech voc graduates and better Philippines.
Quezon City, July 2022. An interview with Mr. Tony Galvez, one of Manila’s premier hair guru. He is a professional tech voc teacher, trainor, assessor and a master in Hairdressing and Beauty Care with years of tech voc practice and exposure. Galvez discussed his point of view on tech voc in the K-12 Technical Vocational Livelihood and TESDA system in Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF).
Tech Voc groups wanted to abolish or remove Technical Vocational Education and Training or TVET from K-12 Senior High School.
They highly recommend to retain Junior High School and professionalize tech voc education to encourage students to enroll in tech voc.
Technical Vocational Institutions or TVIs proposal is to reshape the TVET program and curriculum. They propose the professionalization and licensing of Tech-Voc tracks; these are the Professional tracks and Livelihood tracks. Uplift the status of tech voc graduates by securing a license or to become a professional.
Mr. Tony Galvez, a member and officer of Technical Vocational Schools and Associations of the Philippines or TeVSAPhil District, NCR. He is an expert in the technical and vocational education and training industry in the country. He once said: “Philippine Technical Vocational Education and Training or TVET ang pag-asa para sa kinabukasan ng mamamayan at ng bayan, kung maayos at maganda ang programa.”
Noted for his strong advocacy of technical vocational professionalization for global competitiveness in the country. A true technical vocational graduate and practitioner with wide and extensive experience and exposures in the world of technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
Low regard for tech voc graduates
Management of training schools and centers
Galvez said, “As a practitioner in the field of tech voc in the industry I am in, I have received remarks that tech voc graduates are not treated well. Since I’m on the ground, I can tell based on the feedback I get and observing the people who manage the training schools and centers. Take a look, who are those involved in tech voc, they are from TESDA, TVI’s or owners of schools. The owners of these training schools are all businessmen who do not practice tech voc. Being in the tech voc organization, I met the men who are in the field who practice tech voc. Their problems are the services being not competitive, meaning when it comes to professional fees, there is no institution or agency who regulates on the standard rates or how much a training school should ask. Either, higher education of ordinary training schools, the metrics of value are measured from the NC II level that the school offers.”
National Certificate II (NC II)
He added, “What is NC II? The equivalency of NC II is BASIC. If a student finishes basic tech voc training, why don’t employers hire NC II graduates? This became the major problem when K-12 was implemented. Employers still prefer college graduates. Why? We are having a job mismatch because people are looking for skilled workers who are professionals, but they cannot hire any. For example, I have a business, I’m an employer. I’m looking for the best hair stylist, where should I base their talents? From the applicant’s experience? Truth is, they don’t have any document or proof to show their level of skills training / education.
As a matter of fact, NC II level of certifications is not accepted in progressive countries. In a progressive country, before you get hired, they will ask for your legible documents and take a board exam. Once passed, they will issue a license to practice your profession. That is the high standard of the people who studied tech voc being implemented by employers overseas. Employers interpretation of equivalency of NC II is NOVICE. Even at PCCI, where I was also a trustee, we talked about the equivalency of tech voc and the general image of tech voc graduates.“
Employers hire tech voc graduates and are given a salary or service fee based on the level of education, training, and length of working experience.
Philippine Qualifications Framework
Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) was signed into law by former President Rodrigo Duterte on January 16, 2018.
K-12 was enacted into law on May 15, 2013.
“From the K-12 curriculum, Senior High School offers a technical vocational NC II with strands on Entrepreneurship and Humanities, But those are not APPLIED studies and do not fit in the interest of studies because the ones being taught are only considered GENERAL view and simple skills. And yet no one could check and correct this. It has to have an applied theory.
It needs to be corrected or else they will still continue offering short-term education. Whoever sits on the tech voc will continue the same system that TESDA is doing. People call it “pang-bobo.””, summarize by Mr. Galvez.
Interpretation of the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF)
The PQF is a national policy which describes the levels of educational qualifications and sets the standards for qualifications outcomes. It is a quality assured national system for the development, recognition and award of qualifications based on standards of knowledge, skills and values acquired in different ways and methods by learners and workers of a certain country.
Abolish or remove tech voc education and training from K-12 SHS
The call to change is very timely, and should consider letting tech voc stand on its own platform apart from K-12. As mandated by the national government, tech voc education is separate from basic education and higher education. The tech voc education is an alternative training program that covers a unit of specialized skills training focused on professional skills and livelihood skills.
Push through with the K-12, but separate tech voc from K-12, tech voc is another profession. It’s an occupation where you can set up your own business or become an employee.
As a service, professionalizing tech voc education will uplift the image of tech voc workers and students will be proud to study tech voc. Once they finish tech voc training with a complete level of competencies, they can set up their own business or get hired as certified skilled workers.
What the government can do, is not to give training vouchers or budget to schools or TESDA; it can be given directly to the students. Or talk to Junior High Schools to have a consultation as to what the practitioner wants. Like, Tony Galvez as businessman, what businesses or employers required. As a training school owner, what kind of trainers, assessors, teachers are needed. It should be an industry trainer with experience, not just anybody else.
Four years Junior and two years in Senior High with only NC II level. How far can students go with that level of studies?
K-12 TLE (Technical Vocational Livelihood Education). They made it as a livelihood. The only way to have distinction, is to separate technical product skills from service skills. TESDA seeks the help of TVIs, and that means, how can TVIs encourage students to go tech voc. Having K-12 made it appear as a livelihood, people perceived it as a cheap alternative to education, that graduates would not become successful. Yes, there are successful tech voc graduates working as OFWs, but not all Filipinos will take the same path. Tech voc graduates can still make a name for themselves in the country.
The system of TESDA now is to give scholarship vouchers to TVIs. TVIs will provide tools and materials, and will look for a sustainable job. In reality, what is happening now is, they will give scholarship vouchers to schools. Schools will look for students to fill up the slots or vouchers they got from TESDA and have the quota fulfilled. In most cases, students they get are not into tech voc and eventually will not pursue the course of training. Galvez said “It should be passion-driven; give them the list of tech voc courses that includes the service skills and product skills, so that they can pursue their dreams. And consult the junior high school and let them find their interest. Give the vouchers and let the JHS look for the training school they want to enroll in.”
Students interest in tech voc was high (NCEE, 2007)
In 2007, projected NCEE outcomes have seen an inclination for tech voc student interest. Back then, after four years of high school, they should have professionalized tech voc. Either students go to tech voc education or pursue a college education. Prospero de Vera of CHED said that: “K-12 was created to push higher education when they are ready.” But no one offers B.S. in Construction Services because Construction Services are tech voc. The industry is construction services but specialization inside the construction like masonry (one-year). What’s important is the experience, the government can support the student by issuing a MOA with different businesses allowing/accepting students to become OJTs. Either they hire them as permanents or it’s up to the student to become freelance or set-up a small-scale business.
Ayon kay Ginoong Tony Galvez, “Itaas ang mababang tingin, impresyon, at imahe ng Bokasyonal na Teknikal sa bansa ng may prestihiyo, dignidad, respeto at taas-noo.”
References:
Echo Manila (2021, May). Press Release article. Towards an Improved Pinoy Technical Vocational Education and Training.
Galvez, A. (2021). For Better Pinoy Technical Vocational Educational and Training (TVET) material presentation.
Pinoy Tech Voc. State of the Technical Vocational Education in the Philippines. [Online]. Available at: https://pinoytechvoc.blogspot.com/2022/02/state-of-technical-vocational-education.html [Accessed (July 16, 2022)].
Tesda Policy Brief (2012, December). Philippine Qualifications Framework. [Online]. Available at:https://www.tesda.gov.ph/uploads/File/policybrief2013/PB%20Philippine%20Qualification%20Framework.pdf. [Accessed (July 16, 2022)].
Villena, D. (2022, March 21). Philippines as the Tech Voc Center in Asia. [Online]. Available at: https://www.deiville.com/philippines-as-the-tech-voc-center-in-asia/ [Accessed (July 15, 2022)].
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