By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Win Gatchalian on Monday (27 Nov 2023) announced that the proposed 2024 national budget will compel the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to formulate training regulations for child development workers (CDWs).
The Senate Committee on Finance has included Gatchalian’s proposal in its committee report on the General Appropriations Bill, aiming to prioritize the upskilling of CDWs.
According to Gatchalian’s suggested special provision, the Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Council and TESDA will collaborate to prioritize the establishment of a training framework leading to ECCD qualification. This regulation will be applicable to both existing and future CDWs.
Research conducted by the senator’s office revealed that 16%, or 11,196 individuals, among the total pool of CDWs, are high school graduates.
Gatchalian, who chairs the Senate Committee on Basic Education, remarked, “TESDA came up with a training regulation for barangay health workers. The same principle applies to our child development workers, our current daycare teachers.”
“The training regulation and certification will elevate their skills, enabling them to perform their jobs more effectively and demonstrating their essential training,” he added.
(ai/mnm)
