Our history
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) was established through Republic Act No. 7796, otherwise known as the "Technical Education and Skills Development Act of 1994", signed into law on 25 August 1994. The law unified the country's fragmented technical-vocational education and training system by integrating the functions of the former National Manpower and Youth Council (NMYC), the Bureau of Technical and Vocational Education (BTVE) of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS), and the apprenticeship program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) into a single authority.
Republic Act No. 7796 declares it the policy of the State to provide relevant, accessible, high-quality, and efficient technical education and skills development that supports national development and produces a globally competitive Filipino middle-level manpower. It also recognizes the vital role of industry and the private sector as active partners in developing a skilled and productive labor force.
Our objectives
The law established TESDA as the government's lead agency for technical education and skills development, with the following objectives:
- Promote and strengthen the quality of technical education and skills development programs to achieve international competitiveness;
- Focus technical education and skills development with the changing demands for quality middle-level manpower;
- Encourage critical and creative thinking by disseminating the scientific and technical knowledge base of middle-level manpower development programs;
- Recognize and encourage the complementary roles of public and private institutions in technical education and skills development and training system; and
- Inculcate desirable values through the development of moral character with emphasis on work ethic, self-discipline, self-reliance and nationalism.
Since its establishment in 1994, TESDA has led the country's technical-vocational education and training (TVET) system by developing competency standards, implementing skills training programs, assessing and certifying workers, and fostering strong partnerships with industry and other stakeholders. Through these initiatives, TESDA continues to fulfill its mandate of producing a globally competitive, skilled, and adaptable Filipino workforce that contributes to national development.
Our vision
The transformational leader in the technical education and skills development of the Filipino workforce.
Our mission
TESDA sets direction, promulgates relevant standards, and implements programs geared towards a quality-assured and inclusive technical education and skills development and certification system.
Our historical leadership
| Director General/ Secretary | Tenure Period |
|---|---|
| Jose Francisco "Kiko" B. Benitez | August 16, 2024 - Present |
| Suharto T. Mangudadatu | June 2023 - August 2024 |
| Danilo P. Cruz | July 2022 - June 2023 |
| Isidro S. Lapeña | October 2018 - July 2022 |
| Guiling A. Mamondiong | July 2016 - October 2018 |
| Irene M. Isaac | October 2015 - July 2016 |
| Emmanuel Joel J. Villanueva | August 2010 - March 2015 |
| Pastor Z. Guiao | March 2010 - August 2010 |
| Rogelio C. Peyuan | March 2, 2010 - March 11, 2010 |
| Augusto "Buboy" Syjuco | August 2004 - March 1, 2010 |
| Alcestis M. Guiang | March 2003 - August 2004 |
| Dante V. Liban | June 2002 - March 2003 |
| Lucita S. Lazo | April 2001 - May 2002 |
| Edicio G. Dela Torre | July 1998 - March 2001 |
| Jose D. Lacson | August 1994 - June 1998 |
Our current leadership
In August 2024, Jose Francisco "Kiko" B. Benitez was appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. as the director general of the TESDA, succeeding Suharto Mangudadatu with a rank of Secretary.
His appointment was seen as a significant move given his strong background in education, including his service as a commissioner for the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOMM II).
TESDA welcomed Benitez's appointment, citing his experience and advocacy for addressing challenges such as skills-job mismatch and unemployment in the technical vocational education and training (TVET) sector.
Upon assumption as TESDA's Secretary / Director General, he outlined the TESDABest 8-Point Agenda, as follows:
TESDABest 8-point agenda
The TESDABest 8-Point Agenda provides the strategic direction for its programs and initiatives reinforcing its mandate to develop a world class, highly skilled, adaptable and globally competitive Filipino workforce.
- Access to TVET. — Expand access to training programs through scholarships and free assessment to enhance employability of TVET graduates.
- Behavior and Mindset Change. — Cultivate a dynamic organizational culture, instill growth mindset among internal and external stakeholders to enhance efficiency and quality of TVET programs, to change public perception of TVET as "second-rate" education.
- Competency Standards and TRs for New and Higher-Level Qualifications. — Develop training courses for high skill jobs and promote workforce agility amidst a changing job market.
- Demand-Driven and Data-Driven TVET. — Strengthen partnership with industry to align training programs with market needs and enhance labor market intelligence and evidence-based TVET programming.
- Employment Outcomes. — Enhance employability and facilitate employment and career progression of TVET graduates.
- Flexible Learning, and Facilities. — Enable different learning modalities and improve the quality of TVET programs through immersive experience and use of adequate facilities and appropriate technology.
- Global Competitiveness, and Good Housekeeping. — Enhance global competitiveness of TVET graduates, by aligning TVET programs with international standards; improve internal processes to increase efficiency in program implementation.
- Harmonization with SHS Curriculum, Ladderization with Higher Education, and Lifelong Learning Pathways. — Enhance employability of SHS graduates by integrating TVET standards in SHS curriculum and enable multiple learning and career pathways through ladderization programs.