School-Industry Partnership for Global Competitiveness through DTS

Halloween is past approaching and many people are already planning how to spend it from what scary movies to watch to the freaky costumes to wear.

But here’s one horror story we should not ignore:  Almost half a million college students graduate in our country every year. A recent survey conducted by the People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP), an organization of HR practitioners and people managers, revealed that 40% of job applicants fail in the job interview and most of them are fresh graduates.

This is one disturbing tale that should not be happening considering our country is home to world-class skills and talents.  We have the best boxer in the world in Manny Pacquiao. It is in this land that the enchanting voices of Leah Salonga, Arnel Pineda and Charice were first heard. Dado Banatao, the Father of Semiconductor, has changed the way we live today with his innovative inventions . They are just some living proofs that Filipinos are globally competitive. 

Now going back to the horror story of college students, how can we have a happy ending? How can we improve their employability and readiness to work after graduation?

Thank God for TESDA!

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority have been implementing programs that aim to develop the skills of every Filipino who want to have a brighter future. One of them is the ideal training modality for enterprise-based training called dual training system (DTS).

DTS combines theoretical and practical training where learning takes place in two venues: the school and the work area of a partner company. With close coordination between the school and office, the trainees are groomed to be fully equipped with employable skills, work knowledge, and attitudes at the end of the training.  Under the DTS, a participant undergoes at least 40 percent of the training/learning time in school and 60 percent for practical training in the company.

TESDA, under the leadership of Director General Joel Villanueva, is celebrating the 2012 Dual Training System Week from October 21-28 with the theme “School-Industry Partnership for Global Competitiveness through DTS.”  The German model of DTS was first practiced in the 80’s through a joint project of the Southeast Asian Science Foundation and the Hanns Seidel Foundation in the pioneer school- Dualtech Training Center. In 1994, DTS was institutionalized in accredited public and private educational institutions, training centers, and agricultural, industrial and business establishments through Republic Act No. 7686 under the administration of then President Fidel V. Ramos.

Since then, TESDA has been the leading government institution that promotes, coordinates, and administers the dual training system.

A landmark year was in 2009 when 348 companies and 57 schools were accredited in the DTS program with 1,187 trainees competing their training during the year in various courses like automotive and motorcycle technology, refrigeration and air-conditioning, network administration, marine technology and others. 

For inquiries on TESDA programs and services, call 887-7777 or email contactcenter@tesda.gov.ph. You may also visit www.tesda.gov.ph for updates and important announcements.