Close to a thousand Samar youth are pursuing ladderized education – TESDA

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
July 13, 2007

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar  –  The Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA-Samar) Chief Cleta Omega bared that some 981 first year college students availed of the Ladderized Education Program this school year.

In a press release prepared by Tony Ramento, TESDA cited leading state colleges and universities and even private higher education institutions that have accepted the Samarnon youths even in adjacent Tacloban City.

In Calbayog City, the Tiburcio Tancinco Memorial Institute of Science and Technology (TTMIST) has 474 enrollees in different degree courses with technical-vocational qualifications namely: Bachelor of Science in Information management for PC Operations; BS Computer Science on PC Operations; Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM) for Housekeeping and BS in Civil Engineering (BSCE) for Carpentry and Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW).

Still in Calbayog City is Christ the King College with 78 enrolled in Bachelor of Science in Computer science for PC Operations, Health Care Services and Caregiving.

In Catbalogan, St. Mary’s College has 234 enrolled in BS HRM for Housekeeping and BS Computer Science on PC operations.

Samar College also in Catbalogan has 186 enrollees in BS Information Systems for PC Operations.

Samar State College of Agriculture and Forestry (SSCAF) in San Jorge, Samar has also nine students enrolled in Bachelor in Agricultural Technology.

This also excludes the private schools in Tacloban City where Samarnons flock into for their valued education.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) continues to push for the strengthening of the department's Vocational Education Program.

In a news conference held in San Juan, Deped Undersecretary for Programs and Projects Vilma Labrador underscored the importance of providing the skills demanded by the market so that they can be employed, regardless of whether or not they finish a degree.

"There is a need to provide relevant foundation skills for higher learning, employment or entrepreneurship opportunities among our youth," Labrador said. "We are confident that thru strengthening our tech-voc program, we will be able to address such need.”

DepEd has initially targeted some 140 high schools where the strengthened tech-voc education program is currently being implemented. The number is expected to increase to about 261 tech-voc schools nationwide by school year 2009 to 2010.

Tech-voc high schools are special schools and are treated differently due to unique needs of its students, academic requirements and curricular offerings, eared or dovetailed to a ladderized education program.