The Center for Technical Education Coordinator, Ms. Ellen Castillo, attended the Technical Vocational Institutions Meeting last June 09, 2020 at Cavite’s TESDA Provincial Office. The said meeting was conducted by Mr. Ramir Montoya, UTPRAS (Unified TVET Program Registration and Accreditation System) Focal.  He discussed the following TESDA Circulars:

1. 103 S. 2019 – Omnibus Guidelines in the Registration of eLearning Programs
2. 062 S. 2020 – Guidelines in the Implementing Flexible Learning in TVET
3. 066 S. 2020 – TVET Arrangements Towards the New Normal During the CoViD-19 Crisis

The highlights of discussion were as follows:

1. Challenges in the delivery of TVET due to CoViD-19:
   • Limited practical skills training due to social gathering measures
   • Inadequate preparation of administrators, trainers and trainees for remote/distance education
   • TVI/trainers/trainees lack or have limited access to internet connection, learning platforms, devices or media and other related resources
2. Response to challenges:
   • Adopt the flexible learning delivery in TVET with considerations to institutional capacity, trainers’ capability, learners’ access to learning resources, access to technology, internet and connectivity and quality assurance.

• Different delivery modes for conduct of training:
• Blended Learning
• Distance Learning
• Face-to-Face Learning
• Online Learning
• Combination of Distance Learning and Face-to-face

According to Mr. Montoya, they highly recommend the use of distance learning.  This is a traditional learning delivery mode that takes place outside the training institution for both the knowledge contents and skills components with the use of print learning materials and non-digital electronic resources.  This is preferred for TVET programs that require no or limited use of large and/or complicated learning equipment and suitable for TVIs, trainers and learners with limited capacity to adopt blended learning and online learning delivery modes.

3. Guidelines in securing certificate of recognition:

• Submission of requirements
• Inspection and evaluation
• Issuance of certificate of recognition
• New TVET programs shall be registered and issued with Certificate of TVET Program Registration (CTPR) regardless of the teaching/learning modes and in accordance with the applicable program registration guidelines, such as:

TESDA Circular No. 103 S. 2019 – Omnibus Guidelines in the Registration of eLearning Programs which requires the following:

• Technology Plan (Course Design, Training Package & List of Supplies, Materials & Equipment);
• Infrastructure Support System (LMS, Human Infrastructure (Technical Personnel & List of Facilities);
• Trainer to be a holder of a Certificate of Competency (COC) in Developing Learning Materials for eLearning OR appropriate training certificate for both WTR and NTR Programs.
• Face-to-Face session shall strictly adhere to COVID 19 Inter-Agency Task Force Health and Safety Protocol.

All actions to be taken by the institutions/training centers, public and private, in preparation for the resumption of classes, should be in accordance with the IATF-EID guidelines. More importantly, plans and actions should strictly follow the health protocols of the Department of Health.  It is still advised to closely coordinate with the concerned LGUs for updated information on a daily basis and check other mitigation levels that are in place in the area.

At the latter part, Atty. Imelda Ong (Acting Provincial Director) thanked everyone who joined the meeting. She said that they called for a face to face meeting because most members were having hard time to make strong connections in online videoconferencing. According to her, trainings will soon resume when IATF has given approval and clearance to TVIs.