Senate Deputy Majority Leader Joel Villanueva on Thursday, September 17, called on the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to strengthen and expand advanced technical-vocational training, saying the country needs more workers equipped with higher-level skills.
Villanueva made the appeal during the deliberations on TESDA’s proposed budget, citing agency figures showing that only about 1% of its 1.45 million graduates had earned a National Certificate (NC) Level 5 qualification or completed diploma-level programs.
Data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), which Villanueva co-chairs, showed that 93% of TESDA graduates held NC I or NC II certifications.
Although TESDA reported an 81% employment rate among its graduates, Villanueva noted that employment does not necessarily translate into higher earnings, with many graduates still working for wages below the prevailing minimum.
Meanwhile, graduates with NC IV and NC V qualifications posted better wage outcomes, pointing to the potential economic benefits of acquiring more advanced technical competencies.
“We cannot keep training workers only for entry-level jobs when industries increasingly demand advanced technical skills, specialization, and supervisory capabilities,” Villanueva said.
“If we want our Filipino workers to level up, TESDA must move up with them,” he added.
Villanueva said EDCOM 2’s findings highlighted the need to improve both the quality and relevance of technical-vocational education and training (TVET) programs.
Among the challenges identified by the commission were outdated Training Regulations, uneven competency-based learning materials and a shortage of qualified workers and trainers in fields where demand remains high.
The commission’s research also found gaps between training programs and industry requirements, limited recognition of certifications, and inadequate private-sector involvement in training, assessment and certification.
In light of these concerns, Villanueva urged TESDA to increase opportunities for higher-level qualifications, particularly programs designed around specialized and advanced skills required by various industries.
He also said TESDA’s performance should not be measured solely by the number of people who complete its programs. Certification, career advancement and improvements in workers’ earnings should also be considered.
“The question should no longer be simply, ‘How many did we train?’ We should be asking: How many became certified? How many moved to higher qualifications? How many obtained jobs that match their skills? And how many saw their incomes improve?” Villanueva said.
Villanueva further stressed that finding employment should not be considered the ultimate indicator of success if workers remain stuck in low-paying positions.
“Employment alone is not the finish line. If a graduate is employed but remains trapped in low-paying work, then we have to ask whether the training is really giving that worker a pathway to better opportunities and better lives,” Villanueva said.
He said a stronger focus on advanced competencies could help Filipino workers qualify for better-paying positions while allowing TESDA programs to respond more closely to the evolving requirements of industries.