THE COMMITTEE on Higher and Technical Education at the House of Representatives has approved a measure that seeks to institutionalize technical and vocational educational training for out-of-school youth.

The panel headed by Baguio City Rep. Mark Go approved in principle House Bill 3621 or the proposed Out-of-School Youth Skills Education Act authored by Sultan Kudarat Rep. Horacio Suansing and Nueva Ecija Rep. Mikaela Angela Suansing.

The measure will mandate the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to give free techvoc education to all youth who are not in school.

It also seeks to ensure that the youth will have an alternative path to productive employment, as well as short and long-term income security.

“Furthermore, it aims to ameliorate the effects of the Covid19 pandemic on financially constrained youth who may have had to stop going to school due to the economic effects of lockdowns,” the lawmaker said.