TESDA offers 68 free online courses during COVID-19 quarantine

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 24) – The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority is offering free online courses to help Filipinos learn new skills while under home quarantine.

TESDA Director General Sec. Isidro Lapeña said on Friday that 68 short online courses would be available for those who wish to learn a new craft or need to advance their technical skills.

“Para may magawa ang ating mga kababayan, we came up with the TESDA Online Program. We enhanced it para ma-avail ng ating mga kababayan,” Lapeña said.

[Translation: To make use of their time, we came up with the TESDA Online Program. We enhanced it so that our countrymen can avail of it.]

Among the courses offered in the TESDA Online Program are bread production, cookery, hot and cold meals preparation, healthcare, and massage therapy.

Also offered in the program are agricultural courses like fruit growing and vegetable gardening; automotive courses such as diesel engine tune-up and battery servicing; and electronics courses like computer system servicing.

To aid the students, Lapeña said the free online short courses have learning videos and quizzes that they are required to pass.

Successful enrollees will be given a certificate of completion. To receive a national certification, students must take assessment tests that require their physical presence at the technical schools.

“Once na mag-normalize ang sitwasyon, kailangan mo magtake ng assessment kasi kailangan ng physical presence para ma-assess nila yung paggamit mo ng equipment at kung ang skills ay kwalipikado na,” said Lapeña.

[Translation: Once the situation normalizes, you need to take an assessment (test). Physical presence is needed so that they can assess how you used the equipment, and if your skills are qualified enough.]

Lapeña said there are some 152,000 enrollees in the TESDA Online Program. He added that there is no age requirement for the free courses but the students must at least be computer literate.

President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Friday the extension of the enhanced community quarantine in some parts of Luzon, including Metro Manila, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon regions, until May 15.