EDUCATION comes to those who are eager to learn, even people behind bars.
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has forged an accord with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) meant to boost the reformation of probationers, parolees and pardonees or those who have been granted clemency.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with TESDA Director General Jose Francisco Benitez to formalize the partnership, witnessed by administrator Bienvenido Benitez, Jr. of the Parole and Probation Administration (PPA).
“This milestone in our corrections system was made possible by the earnest and diligent efforts of our present government under the Bagong Pilipinas movement to reform and transform lives, ensuring that no one gets left behind in our path to progress, even those undergoing reformation and corrections,” said Remulla.
Under the agreement, the DOJ is tasked to screen inmates qualified to undergo the TESDA training to boost their reformation through self-sufficiency and skills development.
Probationers are persons who are convicted of a criminal offense but not incarcerated, and placed instead under the supervision of a probation officer.
Parolees are prisoners conditionally released from jail after serving the minimum period of their prison term, while pardonees are prisoners who have been released on parole or conditional pardon.
The MOA also tasks the DOJ to be in-charge of informing and encouraging prospective beneficiaries to avail themselves of the various skills training programs, including TESDA’s short term and community-based training platforms with the goal of acquiring technical skills for employment and career opportunities.
Moreover, the DOJ will coordinate with local government units (LGUs), provide venues for the conduct of skills training, and continuously monitor it’s the participants’ progress regarding the status of their training in TESDA’s regional, city and provincial centers.
For its part, TESDA will facilitate access to skills training through the extension and mobile training programs (MTP) of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) providers and conduct a Training Needs Analysis to determine the skills training programs to be provided.
Likewise, TESDA has the responsibility to facilitate the conduct of assessment and certification of the graduates for certifiable TVET programs subject to the Philippine TVET Competency Assessment and Certification System, as well as other existing rules and regulation on TESDA’s scholarship programs, including other tasks germane to their mandate.
The cost of the activities and the performance of the Parties’ respective responsibilities shall be for the separate accounts of each without charge to or reimbursement from the other Party, unless supported by a prior written agreement.
This MOA takes effect upon its signing and shall have a duration of three years unless the Parties or any of the Parties decide to terminate the agreement before the termination date.
