What Is This Module About?

Are you or anyone you know looking for opportunities to earn a living? Are you
finding it difficult because you don’t think you have what it takes? Well, my friend,
here’s good news for you. There is a government agency called the Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) which offers skills training to make you
more competitive in finding jobs or starting businesses of your own. The TESDA offers
technical and vocational education and training (TVET) to young people like you. This
training is focused on building skills for future employment and a better tomorrow. You
can become a draftsman, welder, carpenter, cook or some other worker with special
skills by going through this program.
Are you interested in learning more about the various TVET projects and how they
can help you achieve your goals? Do you want to find out what the training are all about
and what skills and attitudes you can develop from them? Do you plan to participate in a
TESDA occupational skills training program? If your answer is yes to all these
questions, then this module is for you.
In this module, you shall examine the different types of TVET programs that the
TESDA offers. You will discover what some of these programs require and how these
programs can meet your needs. This module discusses the preparation and requirements
needed for the TESDA occupation qualification and certification system. Knowing
these can help you get yourself into the program and acquire the skills it offers.

This module is made up of three lessons:

Lesson 1 – Exploring TVET Options

Lesson 2 – Choosing a Suitable TVET Program
Lesson 3 – Preparing for TESDA Occupation Qualification and
Certification Tests

What Will You Learn From This Module?

After studying this module, you should to be able to:
♦ identify the skills training program that best fits your basic skills, attitudes and
goals;
♦ decide if the skills training you chose is suitable for you;
♦ describe the available courses of TESDA’s TVET programs;
♦ choose a TVET program that meets your needs and interests; and
♦ prepare for the TESDA Occupation Qualification and Certification System
Test.

1
 Let’s See What You Already Know
Before you start studying this module, take this simple test first to find out what
you already know about the topics in this module. Answer the questions below briefly.

A. Give three indicators that show if a skills training program is suitable for you.

1. _______________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________

B. Give six examples of jobs or occupations that require skills training that can
be acquired through any of the TESDA’S TVET programs.

1. _______________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________

4. _______________________________________________________

5. _______________________________________________________

6. _______________________________________________________

C. List down the basic requirements for the TESDA occupation qualification and
certification test.

1. _______________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________

4. _______________________________________________________

5. _______________________________________________________

D. State how skills training through TVET programs can help you achieve your
goals.

___________________________________________________________

Well, how was it? Do you think you fared well? Compare your answers with those
in the Answer Key on page 35.

2
 If all your answer are correct, very good! This shows that you already know much
about the topics in this module. You may still study the module to review what you
already know. Who knows, you might learn a few more new things as well.

If you got a low score, don’t feel bad. This shows that this module is for you. It will
help you understand some important concepts that you can apply in your daily life. If
you study this module carefully, you will learn the answers to all the items in the test
and a lot more! Are you ready?

You may go now to the next page to begin Lesson 1.

3
 LESSON 1

Exploring TVET Options

Have you ever dreamed or heard a friend say, “I wish I could become a doctor/an
engineer/a lawyer/a nurse someday. But studying to become one takes such a long time
aside from the fact that I can’t afford it.”
When young people think of their futures, they usually think of completing
four-year courses in college and landing jobs in the many corporations all over the
country. However, going through formal education in colleges and universities usually
takes a long time and requires a lot of money. Not all families can afford to support
their children through four years of college.
But times have changed. Today, many young people can have brighter futures even
without college diplomas, thanks to the special skills they can acquire through TVET
training. New blue-collar or skilled workers can earn as much as or even more than their
white-collar college-trained friends. Given proper training and opportunities, skilled
workers now face better chances of landing good jobs and starting businesses of their
own.
This lesson will introduce you to the general characteristics of skilled workers as
well as their importance to society. You will learn about the many options available for
skilled workers and training that can help them achieve their goals. You will also get to
know about the many TVET programs available at present. Are you ready to find out how
you can have a better future even without going to college? Read on.

Let’s Think About This

Can you imagine yourself becoming a skilled worker, using your hands to earn a
living? Reflect on this before proceeding to the next part of the lesson.

Let’s Try This

To make you understand better the nature of occupations requiring skills training,
go around your neighborhood and talk to the skilled workers in the area. Spend some
time with a hairdresser or a barber, a manicurist or a beautician, talk to a welder, a
machine operator, a computer technician, a dressmaker, a cook, a carpenter, a tailor or
anybody whose work requires skillful use of one’s hands. Notice that these people are
good at what they do because they have been trained. Make a table similar to the one on
the next page. Fill it up afterward. An example has been provided for you.

4
 Skilled Worker Required Skills Training Obtained Required Attitudes

Tailor Using a sewing Trained by father Patience, creativity

machine

How many skilled workers in your neighborhood did you talk to? What did you find
out about the required skills, attitudes and training needed to be like them? Study the
table you came up with. Among all the occupations listed, what would you like to be?
Then check if you have the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes required for that
kind of work. Do you have what it takes to be that kind of skilled worker?

Let’s Learn

From the previous activity, you learned that there are lots of people who earn a
decent living because of their special skills. These workers can be appliance and
electronics repairmen, bakers, land surveyors and house painters. Most of them did not
finish college but they have good jobs.

5
 Skilled workers can acquire skills through different means. Some of them learn
from family members who have been doing the same thing for years. Knowledge, skills
and inclination, after all, can be transferred from parent to child. However, not everyone
has the opportunity to be born into a family who has been involved in their own business
for a long time. Do you know someone in your family who can teach you a particular
skill? or perhaps a family friend, an acquaintance or a relative who owns a shop where
you can learn the trade, so to speak? Undergoing hands-on, directly-supervised training
is called apprenticeship. This is a very good way to acquire skills because the
knowledge you earn can immediately be applied. If nobody in your family can pass on a
skill to you and going to college is not a possibility, what other options do you have?
You are fortunate because you now have the opportunity to acquire skills and
attitudes you may need from training offered by several government agencies such as
the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), a government
agency that specializes in providing nonformal education and skills training to young
people like you. The TESDA offers technical and vocational education and training
(TVET). This is composed of programs that provide traditional and nontraditional
courses to enhance workers’ skills and increase their chances of earning more.
Traditional courses refer to the more established occupations such as tailoring,
baking and managing beauty salons. Nontraditional courses, on the other hand, involve
training young people in technical or more modern courses such as computer repair,
data encoding, electronics repair and machine operation.
Skilled workers generally work well with their hands. However, recent advances in
technology such as the use of computers and other machines require knowledge and
skills in the choice and use of appropriate tools, equipment, instruments and other
materials. The safe and proper use of these tools require proper skills training which
TVET programs provide. An electronics technician, for example, needs training to
properly diagnose what’s wrong with certain appliances as well as how to use special
devices.

6
 Let’s Try This

Write down the occupation that uses the instruments or tools shown on the left
side of the page.

1. _____________________________________

2. _____________________________________

3. _____________________________________

4. ___________________________________

5. ___________________________________

Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on page 35. Can you think of
other skilled occupations and the tools used in them?
7
 Let’s Study and Analyze
Do you know that foreign employers generally like Filipino skilled workers? This
is because they possess not only the appropriate skills but also the proper work values
needed in their jobs. TVET programs being offered by the government through the
TESDA and other accredited private and public institutions prepare these individuals
for a range of technical and vocational occupations. These programs aim to develop
world-class, technically-skilled and educated workers with positive work values.

TVET programs are said to be competency based, meaning each individual is

trained and tested according to his/her level of competency or capabilities. Not
everybody can get into a program and successfully apply what he/she is taught, after all.

Each individual must choose the TVET program that fits him/her perfectly. For
example, those who want to train as beauty-salon workers such as hairdressers, nail
specialists and hair colorists require adeptness in using their hands since they will be
using small tools such as make-up brushes and eye liners. They also need to show
creativity because their work aims to make people more beautiful. They should be able
to imagine or see beauty in their mind’s eye.

A computer technician, on the other hand, needs to be very patient when working
with small computer parts. He/She also needs an analytical mind to make sense of all
the connections found inside computers. Dexterity or skill in using his/her hands and
good eyesight are also important in his/her job.

Barber Computer technician

8
 Let’s Try This

Below are other occupations requiring specific skills and personal characteristics.
Name the skills and characteristics required to be successful in each of them.

Welder Data encoder

______________________________________________ ___________________________________________________

Manicurist Electrical appliance repairman

________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________

Have your Instructional Manager check your answers. How well did you do?

From the examples given earlier, you can see that each occupation, as in each TVET
program, requires different competencies. Do you think you have what it takes to be in
the occupation you plan to pursue?

9
 Let’s Try This

Let’s see if you recognize the different technologies one may use as a skilled
worker. Match the courses in Column A with the skills taught in Column B. Write the
letter of the correct answer in the space provided before each number.

Column A Column B

_______ 1. Fine Arts a. food preservation and preparation

_______ 2. Food Technology b. waitering skills

_______ 3. Handicraft Making c. tailoring and dressmaking

_______ 4. Electrical Technology d. hairdressing and facials

_______ 5. Automotive Technology e. computer repair

_______ 6. Welding f. steel fabrication

_______ 7. Hotel and Restaurant g. machine repair and manufacture

Management

_______ 8. Clothing Technology h. making rattan furniture

_______ 9. Computer Repair and i. building wiring systems

Maintenance

_______10. Cosmetology j. charcoal and oil painting

Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on page 36. How well did you
do?

From the previous activity, you learned that each course offered by schools have
corresponding TVET programs under the TESDA. For example, if you plan to learn how
to bake, a TVET program is available for you. You can learn not only baking skills but
learn the proper use of utensils and equipment necessary in running bakeries as well.

Some available TVET programs include the following:

TVET Programs Curriculum

Automotive Technology Basic automobile troubleshooting

Car painting
Car engine repair
Construction Technology Constructing buildings
Conducting land surveys
Carpentry

10
Computer Repair and Computer troubleshooting
Maintenance Data encoding
Cosmetology Hairdressing and hair coloring
Make-up skills
Electrical Technology Installation of electrical wiring systems
Electronics Technology Electrical appliance troubleshooting
Food Technology Food preservation
Cooking
Dessert preparation
Clothing Technology Tailoring and dressmaking
Embroidery
Making children’s clothes
Stuffed toy production
Hotel and Restaurant Baking
Management Basic hotel services
Banquet preparation
Housekeeping
Training for waiters/waitresses and
bartenders
Handicraft Making Rattan furniture making
Christmas decor making
Papier mache
Shellcraft
Woodcraft
Welding Technology Basic welding
Metalcraft

Let’s See What You Have Learned

Answer the following questions briefly.

1. Why are TVET programs competency-based?

___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

2. What do the letters in the following acronyms stand for?

TESDA _____________________________________________________

TVET _____________________________________________________

11
 3. Name the TVET programs mentioned in the lesson.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on page 36. How well did you
do?

Let’s Remember

♦ There are many available skills training programs for those who want to
acquire training for future occupations.

♦ TVET programs are being offered by the TESDA and other agencies to provide
training for various technologies and occupations requiring special skills.

♦ TVET programs are competency-based.

12
 LESSON 2

Choosing a Suitable TVET Program

In Lesson 1, you learned that going to college is not the only way to prepare for a
better future. Many young people like you can acquire skills through the many TVET
programs that the TESDA and other government agencies offer. However, given the
more than one hundred different TVET programs available where skills training are
offered, what program would you choose? What kind of work do you think suits you?

In this lesson, you shall learn the steps you should take in choosing the most
suitable TVET program for you. Since TVET programs are competency-based, there are
a lot of considerations one must take before choosing and applying for a particular
TVET program. Study this lesson carefully. You might be making one of the most
important decisions in your life! Knowing how to make that decision may mean a lot for
your future. Read on.

What do you want to become?

13
 Let’s Think About This

Do you know any adult whose occupation or work seems to interest you? What is
his/her name? What does he/she do for a living? Why would you want to be like him/
her? Do you think you have what it takes to be like him/her?

Let’s Study and Analyze

Young people like you dream of finishing four-year college courses. This ambition
is good. Acquiring knowledge through formal education offered in college, however,
may not be that realistic for everyone. You can choose a TVET program under the
TESDA instead. First, determine whether you really want to train for a specific skill.
Then assess your present situation. Consider the financial capability of your family to
send you to school. Consider also your priorities at this point in your life.
Do you still have brothers and sisters in school? Do you have relatives who can
help you finish college? You can make a list of all identifiable factors that have to be
considered in making this important decision. You are fortunate to have various TVET
programs and government agencies like the TESDA that can help you achieve your goals
even when going to college is not possible.
Now, think if you really want to undergo skills training. Remember that there are
many other options for earning well even without going to college. Skills or vocational
training is one of them. You can make a list of the reasons why you want to get into a
TVET program. Study those reasons very well then make a decision! Have you decided
yet? If you did, good for you!

Should I go to
collegeor...?

Now that you have made the decision, what’s next? The next thing is to choose a
TVET program that suits you. Proceed to the next page.

14
 Let’s Try This

Study the list you made earlier in Let’s Think About This. Look at the kind of
training, skills and attitudes that your interviewees’ jobs require. This should guide you
in choosing a suitable TVET program for you.

Make your own list. Be guided by the following:

Goals—plans you have for yourself and your family;

Interests—things you enjoy doing and actually do often;

Attitudes—your personality traits or characteristics;

Strengths—things that can help you reach your goal; and

Weaknesses—things that can hinder you in achieving your goal.

Goals

For myself
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

For my family
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
Interests
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

Attitudes
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

Skills
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

15
 Strenghts
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

Weaknesses
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________

Below is a list made by Ana, a young person like you, who has decided to apply for
skills training in a TVET program. Ana has carefully thought of the items in her list.

Ana’s List
Goals

For myself : To get a high-paying job that would help me live on my own
For my family: To help my family financially and send my two younger brothers
to school
Interests: Putting make-up on other people and arranging their hair
Attitudes: Patient and hardworking
Skills: Putting make-up on other people, cutting people’s hair
Strengths: Creative and open to new trends in hair styling and making people
beautiful and having an aunt who owns a beauty parlor where I can
practice
Weakness: Being a slow learner

Study Ana’s list. What TVET program would you suggest she take? What helped
you make that suggestion? What item in her list that encouraged you to do so?

Compare your answer with mine below.

I suggest that Ana take up cosmetology. I think she should study how to manage a
parlor as well because she is already competent in this field. Having an aunt with a
parlor was a bonus since she already has a place to practice what she learns after the
training. This shouldn’t stop her from putting up her own salon in the future. She can use
her being patient and hardworking in attending to her customers. However, her being a
slow learner may make training more difficult for her. She just has to put in more effort
to learn.

16
 How about you? What do you have in your list? Follow what Ana did. What TVET
program do you think suits you? Was it easier for you to decide after making your own
list?

Let’s Learn

The list you just completed can help you assess yourself. It can help you choose a
suitable TVET program. The following factors should always be considered when
making important decisions.

1. Goal

Goals are plans that you make for yourself and your family. It is important
for you to have a time frame for your goals. Goals may be short term (set for a
month) or long term (set for five years, for example). This way you can assess
whether you are on track or not. If you do not achieve your goal within the set
time frame, a reassessment is needed and proper action should be taken.

Knowing your goal determines the steps necessary to attain it. Identifying
a goal gives you direction.

2. Interest

An interest is something which arouses your attention and curiosity.

Interests include your hobbies and pastimes. Knowing what interests you can
help you achieve your goals more easily. Doing something you enjoy makes
your work easier, after all.

17
 3. Attitudes

Being interested in something is not enough though in achieving your

goal, you need the proper attitudes as well. For example, if you want to be a
hairdresser, you need to be comfortable around people. You have to have a
friendly attitude and a happy disposition to encourage customers to come
back. Proper work attitudes can also help you invite new customers and keep
those whom you already have.

4. Skills

In Lesson 1, you learned that TVET programs are competency-based.

Hence, some level of skill is necessary even before a person starts training. In
Ana’s case, she already knows a little about cutting hair which makes her a very
good candidate for training to become a hairdresser. Each training program
requires different skills. A computer technician, for example, needs to have
dexterity of hands to manipulate tiny computer parts. Bakers, on the other
hand, need to be competent in measuring ingredients. Being competent in the
program you are applying for increases your chances of getting accepted.

List down some of the skills required for each of the occupations listed below.

Occupation Required Skills

1. Draftsman _______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
2. Welder _______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
3. Handicraft manufacturer _______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
4. Carpenter _______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________
5. Cook _______________________________________
_______________________________________
_______________________________________

Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on page 36. How well did you
do?

18
 5. Strengths
Strengths refer to one’s abilities that can help him/her reach his/her goal.
These are the abilities that will help you succeed. These can be skills or
personal characteristics. They can also be factors in your environment. In
Ana’s case, she has an aunt who owns a beauty parlor. Her aunt can help her
start by exposing her to actual work in a beauty salon.
6. Weaknesses
If your strengths help you reach your goals, your weaknesses hinder you
from achieving them. What would hinder you from reaching your goal? How
can your weaknesses limit your chances of becoming a skilled worker? Can
you do something about these weaknesses? Of course, you can, you just have
to exert a little more effort.
After making a self-assessment checklist you can now take the second step. You
can now find out what TVET programs are actually being offered. There are more than a
hundred programs to choose from. You need to acquire a list of all the programs
available in a training center near you or an agency you plan to train with. Each program
is not constantly being offered so you have to call or write to agencies that offer TVET
training. They would be more than happy to provide you with a list of the TVET
programs they offer as well as their training schedules.

Good morning, I would like to

inquire about the available
TVET skills training at this
time.

If you already have a list of the TVET programs available and you seem to have
narrowed down your choices, what other things should you consider?

19
 Refer to the list below.

1. What are my chances of being employed after taking up this TVET program?
2. Does the occupation I may end up with require a certain amount of traveling?
If it does, am I willing to travel or be relocated to another area?
3. Do I or will I have access to the equipment or tools required for this
occupation? If not, do I have a way to acquire them?
4. Will this TVET program allow me flexibility and give me room for
self-development?
5. Does this program help me attain my personal goals?
6. What are the program’s schedules and course fees?
7. Are there available scholarships I can apply for?
8. Where will the training be held? Do I have the resources to see me through the
program?
9. What are my chances of getting into this program?

Aside from inquiring directly from the agencies offering different TVET programs,
you can ask other graduates of a certain program about their experiences. Their advice
would be a valuable source of information that can help you make your decision in
choosing the program that suits you. This information is particularly important in
helping you choose a good quality program that interests you. So go ahead, don’t be
afraid to ask around.

I heard you have taken up skills

training before, Mang Pilo. Can you tell
me about it? You see, I also plan to
take up skills training in car repair.

20
 The agencies offering the various programs would also be valuable sources of
information regarding the details of each program. Do not forget to inquire about the
following:
1. Actual training methods used
Most TVET training sessions include both lectures and hands-on
apprenticeships. Would you be willing to undergo rigid training and participate
in related activities?
2. Course details
Course training may be nonformal or formal. Nonformal training does
not need extensive classroom supervision and deals more with hands-on
training. Formal training, on the other hand, needs a longer period of teacher
presence.
Certificates are not issued for noncredit courses but actual skills training
may be provided. This is an important consideration if you intend to apply for
a job in a company which requires certificates.
3. Course duration
There are many TVET programs to choose from. Because the skills
required to be developed for each occupation greatly differ, some courses are
short term while others are long term.
Short-term courses usually last less than six months. Some courses can
be finished in two weeks. Long-term courses, on the other hand, may take
more than a year to complete. The difference in the time required to finish a
course depends on the degree of technical difficulty involved in it. For
example, a computer course would require more training sessions than
cosmetology. This is not to say though that computer technicians are more
important than hairdressers but the nature of their jobs vary.
4. Course evaluation
If the TVET program you plan to take is a credit course, then it includes
performance evaluations as part of the training. Evaluation may take the form
of written tests, hands-on activities, practical exams or oral tests. These
should be considered since you will be graded based on their results.
Once you have made the decision to get into a program and undergone
self-assessment, a program assessment is needed. When all of these steps have been
completed, you may now apply for admission to the TVET program that suits you. Good
luck in making your choice. If you follow all the steps mentioned, you’ll have a very
good chance of not only completing the program but also succeed in applying your
knowledge when you work.

21
 Let’s Think About This

If a friend asks you to help him/her in choosing the TVET program that suits him/
her, what advice will you give?

Let’s See What You Have Learned

Enumerate what is asked for in each of the following.

A. What factors should be considered in assessing oneself?

1. ______________________________

2. ______________________________

3. ______________________________

4. ______________________________

5. ______________________________

6. ______________________________

B. Name the factors to be considered when assessing a TVET program.

1. ______________________________

2. ______________________________

3. ______________________________

4. ______________________________

Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on page 37. How well did
you do?

22
Let’s Remember

♦ The steps one should take in choosing a suitable TVET program are:

1. Decide whether you want to undergo training in the first place. Consider
the many factors within yourself and in your environment as well in
choosing a TVET program.

2. Assess yourself. Identify and analyze your goals, interests, skills,

strengths and weaknesses.

3. Afterward, make a program assessment in terms of availability,

opportunities offered, accessibility and time needed to complete the
program. A careful assessment of these and other factors will help you
choose the program that suits you.

4. Inquire from the agencies offering TVET programs about the details of
the program you finally choose. Asking those who finished the same
TVET program would be a big help too.

23
 LESSON 3

Preparing for TESDA Occupation

Qualification and Certification Tests

Jose is 24 years old. He was not able to finish college but he is a skilled watch
repairman. He learned how to repair watches from his father who did it for a living. Jose
applied for a job abroad but the agency didn’t accept him because foreign employers are
looking for certified skilled workers. He was then advised to take the TESDA
qualification and certification test.

By now, you should have already made a decision to undergo training and have
chosen a TVET program to apply for. There are a number of TESDA centers all over the
country. Aside from the TESDA, there are dozens of other private institutions that offer
TVET programs as well. You can inquire from your municipal officers about this. You
can even visit some of them and inquire about the many programs they offer following
the steps you learned in the previous lessons. Notice that each training center may offer
different programs based on the needs of each municipality and available training
resources. You can choose what course to take and where to take it. When you have
already finalized your decision to train under a program, there are some steps that you
have to follow before you can actually start training.

This lesson will tell you all about these and more. It will teach you how to apply for
training under a TVET program. It will also teach you how to properly fill up application
forms and answer application interviews. It will also help you prepare for the TESDA
qualification and certification test thereby increasing your chances of getting accepted
into a TVET program and actually succeed in completing it.

24
 Let’s Think About This

Have you ever tried applying for work or admission to a school? Remember how
nervous you were? Part of that nervousness was due to uncertainty. Were you anxious
about the questions that you will be asked during the interview?

Let’s Learn

When applying for a TVET program, make sure that you have the following
documents.

1. high-school report card, diploma or its equivalent such as Nonformal

Education Accreditation and Equivalency (NFE A and E) certificate
2. certificate of good moral character from your previous school or a barangay
official
3. birth certificate
4. recent photographs—1 × 1 and 2 × 2
5. certificates, if any, obtained from other training/seminars

Preparing these documents may take some time. Two weeks is usually enough. The
next step is to actually file an application. For TVET programs offered by the TESDA,
you have to fill out a manpower profile form. Keep in mind the following:

1. Write legibly and neatly or better yet use a typewriter in filling up the form.
2. Do not leave blank spaces. You can write n/a or not applicable when the
question/item does not apply to you.
3. Last name refers to your surname and middle name refers to your mother’s
surname before she got married.
4. Do not forget to indicate your zone identification plan (ZIP) code. This will
facilitate the speedy delivery of any type of correspondence to your address.
5. Gender refers to whether you are male or female. Civil status refers to
whether you are single, married, widowed or separated.
6. Employment type refers to whether you are employed, self-employed or
unemployed.
7. Disability refers to any physical defect which you may have. This information
is important because TVET programs are competency-based. A blind person
may have a very slim chance of being admitted into computer repair and
maintenance courses because of his/her disability. Indicate too if you wear
eyeglasses or use tools such as crutches or a wheelchair.

25
 8. Height can be indicated either in feet or in meters. Weight may be indicated
in pounds or in kilos. Blood type may be A, B, AB or O. You can determine
your actual height and weight in a health center or hospital where scales are
available. Blood typing may be performed by someone from a licensed
laboratory.
9. Social Security System (SSS) or Government Service Insurance System
(GSIS) number and tax identification number (TIN) are only filled up by
those who have worked previously. When somebody is employed, he/she
makes SSS contributions if the company he/she is working for is privately
owned or GSIS contributions if he/she worked for the government. In both
cases, a number is assigned to the contributing member. All tax-paying
workers are required to have a TIN.
10. Work experience requires you to list down your previous jobs and
employers, if any.
11. You also need to indicate the needed information for training and seminars
attended and examinations passed, if any. Make your entries for these items
brief and concise.
12. For educational background, you can indicate your NFE A and E experience
if you didn’t have any formal schooling.
The next step in the application process is the interview. Ask for your interview
schedule and take note of it.

Things to Remember Before and During an Interview

1. Dress properly. Semi-formal clothes are appropriate for an interview. Avoid
wearing shorts or rugged clothes. Avoid putting on too much make-up and
overpowering scents too. Look simple but dignified. You can ask your parents
or other working people for tips on how to dress up properly.

2. Be punctual. Take note of the time of the interview and be there ten minutes
earlier. Remember that you are applying for acceptance. Arriving late for an
interview does not leave a good impression on your interviewer.
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 3. Make a copy of your application form and remember the responses you
indicated. Chances are the interviewer has a copy of your application form.
Inconsistent responses do not reflect well on an applicant.
4. Greet the interviewer politely when you enter the room. Position yourself
comfortably in a chair facing him/her. Do not slouch.
5. Maintain eye contact with and smile every now and then at the interviewer.
6. Answer only the questions you are asked tactfully and be direct to the point.
Remember, the less you talk, the less mistakes you make.
7. Thank the interviewer afterward for his/her time. Be polite. You can ask
questions only if he/she signals you to do so.
8. Above all, relax and be yourself. This always works.

Let’s Try This

To prepare for your TVET application interview, practice answering the interview
questions below. You can ask a friend or family member to act as the interviewer. If you
have a tape recorder and a blank audio tape, you can record your conversation. Study the
tape recording afterward and see what you can improve on. Keep on practicing until you
get the answers to the questions right. Remember, practice makes perfect.

1. Please introduce yourself. Tell me about yourself and your family.

2. What made you decide to train under a TVET program?
3. Why did you choose this institution for your training?
4. Tell me about your goals in life.
5. Discuss your skills, strengths and weaknesses that are relevant to the training
program you are applying for.

27
 6. Why do you want to train for _____________________?
7. What difficulties do you expect to encounter during your training and what do
you plan to do about them?
8. What are your plans after completing the course?
9. If you do not qualify for the program, what other options do you have?
10. Do you have any questions?
After completing a TVET program, you then undergo competency assessment
before you can be given a certification. Competency assessment involves determining
whether an individual who has completed a TVET program has indeed learned the skills
that the training aimed to impart. It has two parameters or ways of measuring knowledge
gained from TVET programs. Qualification level measures a person’s knowledge,
skills and work values relative to a set of competencies or skills—needed for the
occupation he/she was trained for, while certification level measures the “expertise”
of a skilled worker in the area he/she trained in. A high certification level would mean
that a person has already mastered his/her craft.

Admission Slip Information

1. Name

2. Trade area
3. Class/Level

4. Test schedule

5. Test venue
6. Time of testing

Assuming that you have been accepted into the program you applied for and
actually completed it, the next step is for you to apply for and pass the TESDA
occupation qualification and certification system test (OQCST).

TESDA OQCST
Who are qualified

28
 A person who has already completed a TVET program is now ready to take an
OQCST. However, individuals who have undergone apprenticeship or direct nonformal
supervised learning in the actual workplace can also take this test. These include people
who were directly trained by their fathers, for example, to weld or bake. Passing the
OCQST signifies that one has acquired the necessary skills relevant to his/her chosen
career.
To apply for the TESDA OQCST, you will need the following:

1. a properly filled-up application form containing all the information relevant to

the occupation you are applying for (A copy of the TESDA OQCST
applicant’s information sheet is found on the next page.)
2. two 2 × 2 photographs with the examinee’s name and signature at the back of
each photograph
3. money for competency assessment expenses (You can inquire from the
nearest TESDA office for the actual costs.)
4. certification of work experience or from the TVET training attended
5. properly filled-up admission slip which will serve as your permit to take the
test (You can request the nearest TESDA office for a copy of this.)
The following steps should be undertaken in preparation for an OQCTS:

1. Rest well the night before. Get enough sleep. Remember, a rested mind is a
working mind.
2. Bring a writing instrument (ball pen), working clothes and the necessary tools
and materials for the competency assessment as specified by the competency
assessor.
3. Don’t forget to bring your admission slip and another ID.
4. Eat well before the test and use the bathroom before entering the testing room
to avoid disturbances.
The actual test is composed of two parts. The first part aims to test your
theoretical knowledge on the skill you are being tested for. This part of the test is
composed of multiple-choice questions in English. Below is a sample question from
the first part of the test.

1. A capacitor consists of
a. conductors separated by an insulator
b. insulators separated by a conductor
c. a conductor alone
d. an insulator alone

29
Signature/Printed Name of Applicant

30
 You shall be provided an answer sheet for your answers. Be sure to follow the
instructions carefully.

The second part of the test is more on the practical application of skills learned.
This involves actual demonstration of the necessary skills relevant to the training you
took. This practical test shall be evaluated by the assessor who will be present
throughout the test. For example, in electronics, you will be required to perform
resistance measurements, voltage and current determination, troubleshooting and
diagramming skills. Different occupations require different skills, hence the assigned
assessor is someone who knows what he/she is doing, he/she himself/herself being a
certified skilled worker.

During the test, remain calm. Focus your attention on the task at hand. Usually, a
time limit is given so you have to work fast. The practical test is a time to “show off”
the skills you learned. After the exam, you can ask for some feedback from your
assessor. You will be told when to come back to claim your test results. If you passed,
you will be given a certificate attesting your acquired skills.

The wait may be long but in the end, it will be worth it. Having gone through this
lesson, you have learned how easy it is to apply for a TVET program and pass the
TESDA OQCST. You just have to set your heart into becoming a skilled worker and
study very well.

31
 Let’s See What You Have Learned
Enumerate what is asked for in each of the following:
A. Name five factors to consider when choosing a suitable TVET program.
1. _______________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________
4. _______________________________________________________
5. _______________________________________________________
B. List five courses available under the TESDA’s TVET programs.
1. _______________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________
4. _______________________________________________________
5. _______________________________________________________
C. Name three requirements for taking the TESDA OQCST exam.
1. _______________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________
D. Name the two parts of the TESDA OQCST exam.
1. _______________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________
Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on pages 37 and 38. How
well did you do?

Let’s Remember
♦ After choosing an appropriate TVET program, you can apply for admission by
filling up an application form properly and submitting the required documents.
♦ Undergoing an interview for admission into a TVET program is easy as long as
you practice beforehand and know yourself well. Remember that TVET
programs are competency-based. You have a better chance of getting accepted
into a program if you assessed yourself well.

32
 ♦ After completing a program, you may take the TESDA OQCTS exam. A skilled
worker who trained through apprenticeship in the actual workplace may also
take this test. You should fill up an application form for this and bring the
necessary documents. The test is divided into two parts—a theoretical part and
a practical part.
♦ Getting a TESDA certificate will be very helpful to you in finding a good job.
It signifies that you know what you are doing and that you have the necessary
skills for it.
Well, this is the end of the module! Congratulations for finishing it. Did you like
it? Did you learn anything useful from it? A summary of its main points is given below
to help you remember them better.

Let’s Sum Up

♦ There are many available skills training programs for those who want to
acquire training for future occupations.
♦ TVET programs are being offered by the TESDA and other agencies to provide
training for various technologies and occupations requiring special skills.
♦ TVET programs are competency-based.
♦ After choosing a suitable TVET program, you can apply for admission by
filling up an application form properly and submitting the required documents.
♦ Undergoing an interview for admission into a TVET program is easy as long as
you practice beforehand and know yourself well. Remember that TVET
programs are competency-based. You have a better chance of getting accepted
into a program if you assessed yourself well.
♦ After completing a program, you may take the TESDA OQCTS exam. A skilled
worker who trained through apprenticeship in the actual workplace may also
take this test. You should fill up an application form for this and bring the
necessary documents. The test is divided into two parts—a theoretical part and
a practical part.
♦ Getting a TESDA certificate will be very helpful to you in finding a good job.
It signifies that you know what you are doing and that you have the necessary
skills for it.

33
 What Have You Learned?
Below is a flowchart of the steps in becoming a TESDA-certified skilled worker.
Fill in the blanks with the correct words or phrases.

Deciding to apply for training under a TVET program

1. __________________________________________

2. ________________________

Program assessment

Applying for admission to a TVET program

3. ________________________

4. ________________________

Completion of a TVET program

5. __________________________________________

6. ________________________

Taking the TESDA OCQST exam

7. _____________ exam
8. _____________ exam

TESDA-certified skilled worker

Compare your answers with those in the Answer Key on page 38. How well did you
do? If you got a perfect score, you may study another module. If you didn’t, review the
parts you made mistakes in before doing so.

34
 Answer Key

A. Let’s See What You Already Know (page 2)

A. 1. When a person is interested in a craft or skill

2. When getting a college degree is not possible due to financial
reasons
3. When a person wants to get a well-paying job or become self-employed
B. 1. tailor
2. baker
3. mechanic
4. electronics technician
5. surveyor
6. computer technician
C. 1. high-school report card
2. certificate of good moral character
3. birth certificate
4. recent photograph
5. accomplished application form
D. Answers may vary. Possible answer: In a world where technology is fast
developing, new opportunities are being opened to more and more skilled
workers. Developing one’s skills will therefore help a person earn more
and have a brighter future.

B. Lesson 1

Let’s Try This (page 7)

1. tailor/dressmaker
2. baker
3. carpenter
4. electrician
5. hairdresser

35
 Let’s Try This (page 10)

1. (j)
2. (a)
3. (h)
4. (i)
5. (g)
6. (f)
7. (b)
8. (c)
9. (e)
10. (d)

Let’s See What You Have Learned (pages 11–12)

1. To make sure you will become the best kind of skilled worker you can be
2. a. Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
b. Technical and Vocational Education and Training
3. Answers may vary.
a. Cosmetology
b. Automotive Technology
c. Hotel and Restaurant Management
d. Food Technology
e. Computer Repair and Maintenance

C. Lesson 2
Let’s Learn (page 18)

1. ability to draw well

2. a strong body, steady hands, knowledge in using a blow torch
3. ability to create new designs, dexterous hand
4. precision in hammering, scaling and measuring
5. sensitive taste buds, creativity in using various ingredients

36
 Let’s See What You Have Learned (page 22)
A. 1. personal goals
2. goals for one’s family
3. skills
4. interests
5. strengths
6. weaknesses
B. 1. program costs
2. program duration
3. location of training site
4. future employment opportunities offered by a particular training
program

D. Lesson 3
Let’s See What You Have Learned (page 32)
A. 1. personal interests
2. existing skills
3. availability of courses
4. personal goals
5. funds
B. Answers may vary.
1. Dressmaking
2. Baking
3. Computer Repair and Maintenance
4. Hotel and Restaurant Management
5. Welding
C. 1. properly filled-up application form
2. assessment fee
3. TESDA certificate

37
 D. 1. theoretical
2. practical

E. What Have You Learned? (page 34)

1. Choosing the TVET program appropriate for you

2. Self-assessment
3. Preparing the necessary documents and filling up an application form
4. Undergoing an interview
5. Applying for the TESDA OCQST exam
6. Preparing the necessary documents and filling up an application form
7. Theoretical
8. Practical

38
 References
ChanRobles Publishing Company. (1999). Chan Robles Virtual Law Library
Philippine Circular On-Line: Technical Education and Skills Development
Act of 1994. http://www.chanrobles.com/legal4tesda.htm. March 16, 2001,
date accessed.

Hierld, Juergen. Technical Vocational Training Program of DED in the

Phillipines. http://www.geocities.com/hierold/DedPage/ThFg.html. March 16,
2001, date accessed.

TESDA. Programs and Projects. http://cag.pworld.net.ph/~tesdaro2/

rog&proj.html. March 16, 2001, date accessed.

TESDA. Tesda Vision, Mission, Value Statement. http://www.tesda.org/vmvstate.html.

March 16, 2001, date accesssed.

———. TVET Reforms. http://www.tesda.org/tvet_reforms.html. March 16, 2001,

date accessed.

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