by Franklin P. Gumapon
DIPOLOG CITY, March 31 (PIA) – Some 700 graduates of vocational and technical courses offered by certain schools here and in Dapitan City have been personally confirmed yesterday by Secretary Joel Villanueva, director-general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
These graduates took up short-term vocational courses such as automotive mechanic, hair dressing, beauty care and others.
Villanueva came here on invitation of Zamboanga del Norte first district representative Seth Frederick P. Jalosjos who was responsible for providing a funding for a free vocational training to the beneficiaries.
In yesterday’s press conference, Villanueva was happy to announce that TESDA is now ISO (International Standard Organization)-certified, making it the only education agency among the government certifying agencies to be such an award.
ISO-certified organizations are organizations that have met the requirements of ISO 9011, which is an internationally recognized quality management standard involving quality management system (QMS).
It can be recalled that TESDA enrolled in two major programs for certification in January 2010, namely, Technical Vocational Education and Training programs registration and competency assessment and certification.
Villanueva said the ISO certification makes TESDA at par with other international educational institutions providing the same skills development services. (FPG/PIA-Zamboanga del Norte)