THE TECHNICAL Education and Skills Development Authority encouraged existing and aspiring scholars to use its newly launched Biometric-Enabled Scholarship Registration System.

TESDA Director General Isidro Lapeña emphasized that through the BSRS, registration of scholars and attendance checking will be more convenient.

“One way to institute integrity in our systems and processes is by way of automation. Not only does automation improve an organization’s efficiency, it also prevents errors and manipulation caused by human intervention,” Lapeña said.

With the implementation of BSRS, fraudulent claims such as unregistered programs, shortened training, ghost trainees, ghost training and unauthorized trainees will be prevented.

Through the new system, trainers and technical vocational education and training providers can monitor and view the progress of scholars such as their class schedules and the attendance sheet.

Likewise, BSRS ensures the integrity of data and minimizes the central encoding as the students/scholars themselves will be the ones to put their information and not the field offices or the registrars.

“When our system is compromised, the integrity of our implementation is certainly affected. Our major frontline service relies heavily on training delivery. As such, we have to institute reforms to safeguard our system,” the TESDA chief said.

As of May 10, 58,466 BSRS accounts for scholars were created. There were also 28,129 and 3,025 accounts for trainers and registrars, respectively.

To further promote the use of BSRS, TESDA’s Information and Communication Technology Office will hold regional fora to be attended by TVET providers.

“We need to implement this and I know this is doable. The BSRS will save time and effort of our TTIs, TVIs, and our would-be and existing scholars in our scholarship programs,” Lapeña said.