Skills training in Madrasahs seen to address extremism, unemployment in Mindanao

From the Philippine Information Agency (Feb 9): Skills training in Madrasahs seen to address extremism, unemployment in Mindanao

The incorporation of skills training in Islamic Madrasah schools is seen to be one component to address unemployment and even extremism among the impoverished areas in Mindanao.

Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Secretary Guiling Mamondiong told members of the media this morning (February 9) that the agency has been tasked by President Rodrigo Duterte to make use of Madrasahs as “skills training centers” so that the students will eventually gain the necessary qualities to be part of the work force.

“In the Madrasah school system, the students are taught mainly Arabic and Islamic studies,” said Mamondiong, “but after that, where will they go?”

“We have to help students of Madrasah, we will teach them livelihood,” he added.

He shared that Madrasahs are only open on weekends, and not during weekdays. “We have to make use of the valuable time to help the students learn.”

Mamondiong explained that one of the factors that cause extremism is the lack of skills. “If they do not have any skills for a livelihood and then their families are hungry, they may resort to extremism,” he said. “This is a skills program to address that.”

The TESDA chief invited all sectors to be advocates of peace. “Without peace, there is no real national development,” he said, adding that they have been in constant talks with different groups for this purpose. “Even in the family, if there is no peace, there can be no prosperity.”

TESDA has initially allocated 60,000 scholarship slots for Mindanao, particularly ARMM and the predominantly Muslim-populated towns. “But if this number is not enough, President Duterte instructed to add more,” Mamondiong said. The budget for the scholarships is Php300-Million for 2017 alone, he added. 

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2651486629004/skills-training-in-madrasahs-seen-to-address-extremism-unemployment-in-mindanao