The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) has issued a compelling call to the hundreds of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) recently repatriated from the crisis-torn Middle East, urging them to consider upskilling as a crucial step before seeking new employment opportunities. In a televised public briefing, TESDA Undersecretary Nelly Dillera emphasized that enhancing their skills and competencies will significantly improve their qualifications in the competitive job market.
Priority Access to Training Programs
Dillera revealed that all TESDA field offices and training institutions across the nation have been directed to give priority attention to these newly repatriated OFWs from the Gulf region. This initiative aims to support their reintegration into the local workforce by providing tailored technical-vocational education and training (TVET) programs.
Leveraging OFW Expertise as Trainers
In a strategic move, TESDA is also exploring the possibility of tapping some of these repatriated OFWs to serve as trainers within the agency's TVET programs. Dillera highlighted that many of these individuals possess valuable skills and international experiences that make them eligible and qualified for such roles.
"We are actively identifying who among these returnees have the expertise we can utilize and potentially become trainers," Dillera stated. "Their extensive exposures and experiences abroad position them as experts, eliminating the need to import foreign trainers for our upskilling initiatives."
This approach not only benefits the OFWs by offering new career pathways but also strengthens TESDA's training capabilities by leveraging homegrown talent. The agency's proactive measures underscore a commitment to empowering repatriated workers through skill development and employment support.
