Sunday, November 13, 2016

TESDA Student Scholarship Assistance Programs

TESDA Student Scholarship Assistance Programs aim to address equity and access by providing direct financial assistance to deserving TVET enrollees across all regions in the country.  The TESDA student scholarship assistance programs currently being implemented includes Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (UAQTEA), PESFA or Private Education Student Financial Assistance, the Training for Work Scholarship (TWSP), and Special Training for Employment Program (STEP). Given below are the details for the said TESDA student scholarship assistance programs.  

Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (UAQTEA)

This scholarship program was established through Republic Act No. 10931 whose main purpose is to promote universal access to quality tertiary education in State Colleges and State Universities (SUCs), Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) and state-run Technical Vocational Institutions (STVIs) by giving tertiary education subsidy thru a student loan program. R.A. 10931 was signed into law by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on August 3, 2017.

UAQTEA Scholarship Eligibility

  • Must be a Filipino
  • Completed at least 10 years basic education
  • Not college graduate
  • Must undergo NCAE/MATB/YP4SC profiling
  • Not a holder of NC III qualification or higher except if enrolled in Level 1V bundled programs or diploma courses
  • Not a recipient of any scholarship grant from other government agency

UAQTEA Benefits

  • Subsidized training and competency assessment
  • Student allowance
  • Free toolkits

Private Education Student Financial Assistance (PESFA)

This program was established through Section 8 of Republic Act No. 8545, otherwise known as the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) Act.  PESFA offers educational grants to qualified and deserving college freshmen both in degree and   non-degree courses.  The program seeks to:

  • Extend financial assistance to marginalized but deserving students in post-secondary non-degree courses
  • Promote TVET
  • Contribute to the development of a competent skilled workforce; and
  • Assist private institutions in their development efforts by assuring a steady supply of enrollees to their course offerings

The PESFA directed the beneficiaries on the choices of careers to the critical skills requirements of in-demand jobs in the labor market. It also allows for equity  distribution of the opportunities made available through government subsidies.

PESFA Scholarship Qualifications

  • Must be High School graduate
  • At least 15 years old
  • Have taken the National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE) or have undergone the Youth Profiling for Starring Careers (YP4SC)
  • Have an annual family income of not more than Php120,000.00
  • Must not be a recipient of any previous TESDA scholarships (2006 to 2013)

PESFA Scholarship Requirements

  • Copy of High School Report Card/Diploma
  • Copy of NCAE or YP4SC result
  • Annual Income Tax Return or Certificate of Compensation Payment/Tax Withheld for the previous year or Certificate of Exemption from Payment of Income Tax Return

Training for Work Scholarship (TWSP)

This program provides immediate interventions to meet the need for highly critical skills. The program has two-fold objectives:

  • to purposely drive TVET provision to available jobs through incentives and appropriate training programs that are directly connected to existing jobs for immediate employment, both locally and overseas
  • to build and strengthen the capacity and capability of TVET institutions in expanding and improving the delivery of quality, efficient and relevant training programs that meet job requirements, including programs for higher levels of technology

The program was launched in May 2006 with funding from the Office of the President and mainstreamed in the regular budget in 2008. This program is a response to the clamor of industry to address the critical skills shortages in priority sectors, particularly the Business Process Outsourcing, metals and engineering, construction and tourism, among others.

TWSP Scholarship Qualifications

  • Must be at least eighteen (18) years old at the time the scholar finishes the training program
  • Educational attainment shall be based on industry requirements or as prescribed in the applicable Training
Pursuant to the Special Provision of the 2014 GM, priority is given to those who are from regions or provinces where the absolute number of poor residents and the incidence of poverty are high. The regional and provincial offices shall ensure that these areas are provided access to TWSP.
Other clientele groups such as persons with disability (PWDs), indigenous people, solo parents and their children and senior citizens shall be afforded access to scholarship opportunities in the qualifications/courses where they can qualify. OFW returnees, members of the families of AFP and PNP personnel killed in military and police operations and other marginalized groups may also avail of the scholarship program subject to pre-qualification. Other industry requirements shall be considered, as may be required by the employers/industry associations.

TWSP Scholarship Benefits

The TWSP scholars shall be entitled to free training and assessment. The approved TWSP standard costing for training and assessment shall be applied strictly. The TVIs shall not exact additional fees (such as fees for IDs and uniform) from the beneficiaries of this program.


Special Training for Employment Program (STEP)

STEP is a community-based specialty training program that addresses the specific skills needs of the communities and promote employment, particularly through entrepreneurial, self-employment and service-oriented activities. Training programs offered are generally short-term or modules based on the Training Regulations promulgated by TESDA. Its objective is to provide skills and training opportunities for the beneficiaries in the barangays/ communities to make them employable and productive.

Both public and private techvoc providers, but mostly local government training centers and TESDA Technology Institutions, deliver the training programs under STEP.

The program was introduced only in 2014 in line with thrust of expanding the reach of TVET to the grassroots.

STEP Scholarship Qualifications

  • At least fifteen (15) years old at the start of the training program
  • Preference shall be given to beneficiaries belonging to indigent families under the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction, Informal Sector families and to those under the next lower poverty level as determined by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
  • Must not be currently a beneficiary of other government educational scholarship and subsidy program

STEP Scholarship Benefits

The trainee shall be entitled to free training and assessment including the training allowance computed at Sixty Pesos (Php60.00) per training day for the duration of the training. The approved STEP standard costing per TESDA Circular No. 13, Series of 2014 shall be applied strictly. The TVIs shall not exact additional training fees from the beneficiaries of this program. Starter toolkits shall also be given to each trainee at the end of the training program

For more details or inquiries regarding any of the TESDA Student Scholarship Assistance Programs, please visit the nearest TESDA District or Provincial Office near you.

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