SENATOR Joel Villanueva has urged the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to strengthen higher-level technical-vocational qualifications, saying Filipino workers need more than entry-level certificates to secure better-paying jobs.

During the Senate deliberations on TESDA’s proposed 2027 budget, Villanueva noted that only 1% of the agency’s 1.45 million graduates have earned a National Certificate Level V (NC V) or diploma-level qualification.

Citing data from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2), where he serves as co-chairperson, Villanueva said 93% of TESDA graduates hold NC I or NC II certificates, while only a small number advance to higher qualification levels.

Although TESDA reported an 81% employment rate among its graduates, Villanueva pointed out that many remain in jobs paying below the prevailing minimum wage, while graduates with NC IV and NC V qualifications tend to earn higher wages.

He said TESDA should prioritize advanced technical skills, specialization and supervisory training to meet industry demand and improve workers’ earning potential.

Villanueva also cited EDCOM 2 findings showing persistent challenges in the country’s technical-vocational education system, including outdated training regulations, a shortage of qualified trainers, mismatches between training and industry standards, and limited private-sector participation.

The senator said TESDA’s success should not be measured solely by the number of graduates, but by how many become certified, advance to higher qualifications, land jobs that match their skills and achieve better incomes.