by Lito Dar
BAGUIO CITY, March 18 – The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) will be conducting the first National TVET Competency Assessment and Certification (NATCAC) Week on March 28 to April 1.


On this event, TESDA will be offering free assessment and certification in all TESDA Technology Institutes (TTIs) all over the country.


According to TESDA-CAR regional director Cenon Querubin, the free assessment and certification aims to benefit thousands of skilled workers, trainers, and Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates and graduating students. Should they be able to hurdle all the required competencies, they will be given a National Certificate (NC) or Certificate of Competency (COC), which they can use in applying for jobs in such fields that are presently in demand.


The NATCAC Week also aims to expand the advocacy and raise more people’s awareness on TESDA’s assessment program.


NATCAC is a simultaneous conduct of competency assessment and certification in identified key qualifications that are hard to find but with high industry demand. For construction, assessment and certification include : Electrical Installation and Maintenance NC III, Electrical Installation and Maintenance NC II, Masonry NC III, Plumbing NC II, Carpentry NC III, SMAW NC III, SMAW NC II and Construction Painting NC III.


For Information, Communication Technology (ICT): Visual Graphics NC III, 2D Animation NC III, 3D Animation NC III, Programming NC IV, Computer Hardware Servicing NC II. For Electronics: Mechatronics NC III, Instrumentation NC III, Consumer Electronics Servicing III.


For Tourism courses: Food  and Beverage Services NC II and III, Commercial Cooking NC II, Bread and Pastry Making NC II, Housekeeping NC III, Housekeeping NC II and Events Management Services NC III and for Automotive and Land Transport: Automotive Servicing NC II and III and Driving NC III.


In 2010, TESDA-CAR’s competency assessment and certification program produced 13,629 person certified (region wide) out of the 18,158 who were assessed or equivalent to 75.06 percent of the applicants.
The March 28-April 1 NATCAC Week is only the first of three batches that TESDA plan to conduct this year. The next two batches are initially set on June 27-July 1 and August 22-26, 2011.


Those who wish to apply for the first batch may secure the assessment application form from any of the TESDA Regional and Provincial/District Offices and TTIs region wide. The form may also be downloaded from the TESDA website at www.tesda.gov.ph.


For further information, you can visit TESDA-CAR Regional Office along Loakan Road or call them at telephone numbers (074) 447-3487 or 447-2244. *(PIA CAR)