A party-list lawmaker urged the government to expand digital skills training for young Filipinos who cannot immediately pursue college education, saying such programs could help them secure jobs and eventually finance their studies.
Solid North Party-list Rep. Ching Bernos said out-of-school youth and senior high school graduates could benefit from training focused on remote work and technology-based employment.
“As digital and remote jobs continue to increase in popularity, digital literacy training could help our youth fill gaps in skills that are needed in the sector,” Bernos said.
“Such training could be of particular use to our senior high school graduates who have not been able to enroll in college and would like to find jobs that would help sustain higher studies in the near future,” she added.
Bernos, a member of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, urged the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to prioritize these groups in its training programs.
TESDA offers courses in digital marketing, artificial intelligence, web development, content creation, and other information and communications technology-related fields.
Bernos said wider access to digital training could provide young Filipinos with sustainable sources of income while enabling them to continue pursuing higher education.
“The sad reality is that many young Filipinos who wish to enter higher learning institutions are unable to because they do not have the means, and we only have so many scholarship slots to give,” she said.
“Pero sa tulong ng pamahalaan, makakakapit sila sa pag-asang makakapag-ipon sila para matupad ang kanilang pangarap na makapagtapos ng pag-aaral,” Bernos added.