1,000 MILF rebel returnees to get education aid from TESDA

From the Philippine Information Agency (Feb 13): 1,000 MILF rebel returnees to get education aid from TESDA

Education aid is coming to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) communities in the form of technical vocational education and training (TVET) scholarships to help jumpstart development in the Bangsamoro areas.

This is part of TESDA's support to the peace agreement the rebels signed with the government last year.
Secretary Joel Villanueva, director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) announced recently that at least 1,000 scholarship vouchers will be made available to MILF rebel returnees or their dependents to give them access to skills training and jobs.

"We will not live in the peace rhetoric and translate it to genuine development by having a skilled and educated youth who will have jobs or livelihood of their own," Villanueva said after attending the launch of the Sajahatra Bangsamoro with President Benigno Aquino III in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao.

Sajahatra Bangsamoro or Peace Bangsamoro is the Aquino administration's socio-economic initiative to uplift the health, education and livelihood conditions of the MILF communities.

TESDA, together with the Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education will play a key role in the initiative through the provision of education assistance to MILF members long deprived of government support.

Last year, the government and the MILF, reached a framework agreement, a major breakthrough toward ending a decades-long insurgency in the southern Philippines.

Villanueva said TESDA is looking at education initiatives to support the Aquino administration's long-term vision of helping the region grow and make a dent on development.

"The road to development may take years, but at least now, our brothers and sisters in the MILF are no longer holding guns that destroy, but training tools that build," he said.

During the event, the TESDA chief handed scholarship certificate of commitment to the initial list of 30 beneficiaries from Cotabato City, Lanao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Basilan, Zamboanga del Sur, Saranggani, Jolo, and Tawi-Tawi. This will be covered by the Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP), one of the major programs of the agency.

The scholars who will be selected from various MILF communities will be entitled to free training in TESDA Technology Institutions, free competency assessment, starter tool kits whenever applicable and training allowance of P60 per training day. The funds will be sourced from the Special Sajahatra Bangsamoro budget.

Rebel returnees or their dependents who will be chosen scholars may avail of free training in various qualifications in the following sectors: agri-fishery, tourism, automotive, information technology, construction, and others that may be available based on the demands of the local market.

TESDA will partner with public and private institutions for the training of the scholars.

In areas where there are no training providers, the TESDA Provincial Office will assist the scholars in looking for the nearest provider. Another option is for the institution to conduct the training right in the area where the scholars are located.

http://www.pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?article=1781360731416