A teacher conducting a face-to-face lesson on different types of advocacy for learners of Navotas National High School. —Inquirer/Lyn Rillon
MANILA, Philippines — To teach, they must learn.
Senior high school teachers under the technical-vocational livelihood (TVL) track must first receive training and certification from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) to be able to impart needed skills to their students, according to Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian.
The chair of the Senate basic education committee said the training and certification of TVL teachers were part of efforts to improve the quality of learning in senior high schools (SHS) and boost students’ chances of getting hired after graduation.
Under the 2024 national budget, the Department of Education (DepEd) received P50 million to train and certify senior high school teachers under the TVL track, he noted.
Tesda standards
Gatchalian added that the training and certification for DepEd’s TVL teachers would ensure that the TVL track of the senior high school program would align with Tesda’s standards.
“Along with our efforts to improve the quality of training for senior high school learners, including their readiness for work, we are also pushing for the appropriate training and certification for our teachers,” he said.
“That’s why we suggested allocating funds so we could give our senior high school TVL teachers the necessary training from Tesda,” Gatchalian added.
The senator also pushed for the free assessment and certification of senior high school learners under the TVL track, which is provided for under the 2024 national budget.
The lawmaker said he hoped that the certification of these learners would increase their chances of getting good-quality jobs after graduation.
An analysis from the senator’s office revealed that 50 percent of senior high school graduates from the TVL track are employed in elementary occupations—as vendors, cleaners, domestic helpers, car and window washers, or street sweepers.