A partnership on the provision of skills and livelihood trainings for Sangguniang Kabataan officials and members was recently signed between the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the SK provincial and municipal federations.
The memorandum of agreement was formally inked last May 4, 2024 at Kemji Resort and Restaurant in Virac by TESDA Cabugao School of Handicraft and Cottage Industries, represented by Regional Director Archie A. Grande III and Vocational School Administrator III Elpidio R. Tuboro, and the SK Provincial Federation represented by its president, ex-officio Provincial Board Member Fred Benedict T. Gianan.
Under the partnership, TESDA-CSHCI will engage with the Catanduanes SKPF in the effective and efficient delivery of Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET)-related programs for SK officials and members.
For its part, the youth organization will allocate funds for the materials that will be used in the implementation of the skills and livelihood trainings that will be provided by the school.
In training the SK officers and members in various skills and livelihood programs, the partnership seeks to develop a pool of trainers and assessors among the youth, promote worker’s entrepreneurship as well as TESDA-CSHCI programs and services.
Specifically, the school shall provide training scholarship funds for the conduct of the skills and livelihood training programs such as the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP), Tulong Trabaho Scholarship Program (TTSP), Special Training for Employment Program (STEP) and others, subject to the availability of funds.
It shall also provide free skills and livelihood training under the Community-Based Training Program for the programs with no scholarship fund allocation and conduct free Trainer’s Training Programs and Assessment and certification for nominated trainers identified by Catanduanes SKPF.
It will be the SKPF which shall identify qualified beneficiaries or scholars who will undergo skills training and competency assessment through the conduct of skills needs analysis under policies and guidelines issued by TESDA.
It will also provide funds for TVET trainings not allocated with TESDA scholarship funds as well as identify and provide an appropriate training venue.
The youth group will also provide starter toolkits, inclusive of the workbooks, record books, visual aids and other similar training materials as well as facilitate the employment of the graduates.
Also executing similar agreements with TESDA were the SK municipal federation presidents: Emman Jorge Gianan of Pandan, Roy Buendia of Bato, John Lawrence Tayam of Gigmoto, Cassandra de Loyola of San Andres, Rosalyn Bernal of San Miguel, Alvin Rodriguez of Bagamanoc, Lyle Benson Cabrera of Virac, Laurence Julao of Baras, Mary Ann Bien of Caramoran, Marc Jay Aguinillo of Viga, and Marc John Castro of Panganiban.
Meanwhile, during the same event, TESDA-CSHCI also signed another agreement for collaboration initiatives with Catanduanes Doctors Hospital, Inc. (CDHI).
The partnership’s initial objective is to conduct employable skills training on health-related priority programs of the school such as Barangay Health Services NC II, Hilot (Wellness Massage) NC II, Contact Tracing NC II, Barangay Infectious Disease Management System NC II, and Community Nutrition Services NC II.
TESDA-CSHCI will provide training scholarship funds under the TWSP and STEP as well as the free training under CBTP and Trainer’s Training for the trainers nominated by CDHI.
In return, the hospital will allow trainees to do hands-on and use the venue and medical equipment or facilities on schedule basis, especially during the practicum phase.
CDHI will also facilitate the employment of the graduates.