The Dual Vocational Training program aims to provide technical-vocational training to low-income groups particularly the unskilled workers, underprivileged high school graduates and deserving out-of-school youth, thus creating a critical mass of highly-skilled workers to support the government's industrialization thrust.
The multi-skills training program includes, among others, electrical and mechanical trade, food and beverage services, and travel technology.
The program employs the Dual Training System (DTS) that is widely adopted in Germany and other European countries. The DTS provides both quality education and gainful employment.
It is a partnership between the educational institution, which handles the theoretical part, and the industry sector, commonly referred to as "industry partner," which provides "on-the-job" training.
Private sector leadership and cooperation is crucial for the Dual System to work and thus it applies the cost-sharing principle.
In 1994, the Dual Training Act (R.A. No. 7686) was signed into law which recognizes the effectiveness of the Dual Training System in alleviating poverty as it enhances the employability and productivity of graduates according to occupational standards and requirements.
There are four projects under the Dual Vocational Training Program in cooperation with local institutions, namely:
1) Multi-skills training
The Dualtech Training Center Foundation Inc. (DTCFI) pioneered the successful implementation of the German Dual Training System in the country in 1982.
It provides programs and services on technical skills training, skills upgrading, work values, trainers' training, curriculum development, and training needs analysis. It also develops customized courses and undertakes in-house training for companies in other parts of the country.
The courses include trade areas such as Electromechanics, Industrial Automation and Tool and Die with a duration of up to 36 months.
The center operates training facilities in Metro Manila and Canlubang. It has produced 22,300 graduates (1990-2001) together with more than 500 participating companies.
Dualtech also works hand in hand with a special group of cooperating companies known as the Dual System Chamber of Industries (DSCI), which helps widen its network of industrial training partners.
Recently, a Trainer's Training Program for Industrial Trainers - an upgrading program for industry trainers and vocational instructors - was launched in the Calabarzon area in partnership with Fundacion CODESPA, Spain.
The Pablo Borbon Memorial Institute of Technology (now Batangas State University) offers a 4-year dualized Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Technology (offshoot of the three-year mechanical training program) in cooperation with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). This EU-funded project was accomplished in cooperation with the Dualtech Training Center Foundation, Inc.
2) Technical skills training
In February 2003, the European Commission (EU) approved a three-year co-financing project (2003-2005) jointly with international and local institutions namely, HSF (lead partner), Fundacion CODESPA (second lead partner), and the Jose and Demetria Cojuangco Foundation, Inc - JDCFI (local partner), for the expansion of quality technical education in Tarlac through the institutional strengthening of the Tarlac Training Center (TTC).
The project activities consist of the construction of a 1,000 square meter training facility, purchase of new equipment, tools and machines for operations and training, the offering of dual training system courses and short-term upgrading training programs, and hiring of teachers.
3) Travel technology
The 2-year program in travel technology for young men and women from low income families was launched in September 1995 in cooperation with the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), the State Institute for International Professional Training/Germany (Landesinstitut für Internationale Berufsbildung Nordrhein-Westfalen/LIB-NRW), the East Asia Institute of Technology, and major airlines and travel agencies.
It has produced 77 graduates from the first 3 batches and has 50 students for the current 2 batches. To date, it has a total of 19 industry partners with Concordia College serving as the educational partner.
4) Food and Beverage Services
The 2-year training program on food and beverage services aims at young women interested in pursuing a career in the hotel and restaurant industry.
The project took off in June 1993 under the principal sponsorship of the State Institute for International Professional Training, a foundation based in North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany in cooperation with Punlaan School and Hanns Seidel Foundation.
This project has already been turned over to the partner, Punlaan School, and is continuously running.
A new project proposal was submitted for possible joint funding with other European and international organizations related to vocational and professional training within the Dual Training System.
