Name: Manelyn B.

Caburog Date: May 04, 2022

Professor: Prof. Ma. Gloria E. Liquido
Subject: MAED 202 School Laws and Policies

REFLECTION ON RA NO. 7796

On August 25, 1994, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority
(TESDA) was created. It was signed into law by President Fidel V. Ramos. TESDA's
policy is to provide relevant, accessible, high quality, and efficient technical education
and skills development.

The educational mandate made references to "vocational efficiency," "citizenship

and vocational training to adult citizens and out-of-school youth," and "(providing) adult
citizens, the disabled, and out-of-school youth with training in civics, vocational
efficiency, and other skills" in the 1987 Constitution (Center for Research and Special
Studies, 1998, 6ff). Given the importance of this landmark legislation in strengthening
the government's role in promoting national competency upgrading, it's worth noting that
its predecessor, Republic Act No. 5402, also known as "The Manpower and Out-of-
School Youth Development Act of the Philippines" (Ibid.), was also a guiding light in
ensuring the mobilization of state resources to close the skills gap.

The government and school should collaborate to design a curriculum mix that
addresses current work needs and employment trends. This is not only a government
responsibility; it should also be a conscious awareness by school that it is responsible
for not only graduating students but also grooming them for future careers and
businesses. Vocational education is integrated into the curriculum in countries such as
Australia and Canada, as well as the United States. As a policy exchange, we can
accomplish the same thing. However, given the mindset of most people, not just
Filipinos, the concern lies in its potential impact on the desire for labor over continuous
education. The void that exists between school and job should be exploited to its full
potential.

There are other activities that can be done to close the gap. Internal training is
used by some companies to bring in new hires, fresh graduates, and train them in the
rigors of the job. These major areas should be considered as avenues for collaboration
and cooperation by the government, and they should be included in the establishment
of policies related to the continuous evolution of TESDA's role in its thrust for human
capital development and internal sustainability.