A study is pushing the revamp of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) curricula development to align them with industry demand and standards, thus improving the employability and the resulting employment outcomes.
A Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) discussion paper titled “Examining the Effects of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) on Employment Outcomes in the Philippines” said this can be done by regularly updating and reorganizing existing training programs which are responsive to the rapidly evolving industry needs.
“Continuously shift towards equipping trainees with multidimensional skills, instead of singular ones, thereby leading to more holistic individuals capable of performing multiple tasks and be competent to be in more than one occupation, is necessary to respond to the rapidly evolving demands of workplaces,” it said.
The paper said the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), in close collaboration with the private sector and other stakeholders, can exert more concerted efforts towards developing and offering higher skilled TVET programs that lead to better-paying occupations.
In more productive sectors, training programs must be central in the national and local technical education and skills development plans and frameworks, it said.
“Industries should be at the forefront of the delivery, development, certification, and accreditation of training programs. Partnership with industry practitioners, without compromising their current roles in their own industries and/or firms, can also ensure that the necessary standards are the basis of the curricula,” it added.
The paper also proposed to increase private sector involvement in training delivery and development, introduce effective mechanisms to monitor and assess the employability and employment outcomes of TVET graduates, destigmatize potential bias against TVET graduates, and conduct future research.
“Effective monitoring mechanisms require complete and well-functioning labor market and skills registry information systems. For instance, the employers’ perspectives on the work performance and competency levels of TVET graduates is a crucial input in understanding the overall effectiveness of TVET programs in equipping trainees with the necessary skills in their respective occupations,” it said.
The study found that completing a TVET program increases the likelihood of being economically active and seeking work, but there was no strong evidence that it improves the chances of obtaining employment or quality jobs.
The employment effects of TVET vary by education level, benefiting only those with at least secondary education. Employment outcomes also varied across training modalities, but not by program registration, certification, or scholarship status, it said.
“Based on key informant interviews (KIIs) and a desk review, these findings can be attributed to supply-side, demand-side, and systemic factors, such as a mismatch of program offerings with industry standards, potential bias against TVET graduates, lack of recognition of certifications, and limited private sector involvement in training provision, development, certification, and assessment,” it added.
