THE TESDA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS

With the main thrust to equip disadvantaged out-of-school youths and unemployed but capable adults with skills needed by priority sectors, TESDA offers scholarship programs to assist trainees and potential trainees financially.

These programs aim to address equity and access by providing direct financial assistance to deserving TVET enrollees across all regions in the country. Regular scholarship programs come in the form of the Private Education and Student Financial Assistance (PESFA) and the Training-for-Workshop Scholarship Program (TWSP).

A. Private Education Student Financial Assistance (PESFA)

This program was established through Section 8 of Republic Act No. 8545, otherwise known as the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) Act. PESFA offers educational grants to qualified and deserving college freshmen both in degree and non-degree courses. The program seeks to:

1. Extend financial assistance to marginalized but deserving students in post-secondary non-degree courses;

2. Promote TVET;

3. Contribute to the development of a competent skilled workforce; and

4. Assist private institutions in their development efforts by assuring a steady supply of enrollees to their course offerings.

The PESFA directed the beneficiaries on the choices of careers to the critical skills requirements of in-demand jobs in the labor market. It also allows for equity distribution of the opportunities made available through government subsidies.

B. Training for Work Scholarship (TWSP)

This program provides immediate interventions to meet the need for highly critical skills. The program has two-fold objectives:

1. To purposively drive TVET provision to available jobs through incentives and appropriate training programs that are directly connected to existing jobs for immediate employment, both locally and overseas; and

2. To build and strengthen the capacity and capability of TVET institutions in expanding and improving the delivery of quality, efficient and relevant training programs that meet job requirements, including programs for higher levels of technology.

The program was launched in May 2006 with funding from the Office of the President and mainstreamed in the regular budget in 2008. This program is a response to the clamor of industry to address the critical skills shortages in priority sectors, particularly the Business Process Outsourcing, metals and engineering, construction and tourism, among others.

Applications for the 2014 TESDA Scholarships in Caraga Region are now open. Availment is subject to the availability of scholarship allocations and the mandated entry requirements.

The following scholarship programs are available in Caraga Region in 2014:

• Private Education and Student Financial Assistance (PESFA);

• Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP);

• Skills Training for Employment Program (STEP); and

• Grassroots Participatory Budgeting (GPB)