BPA/P and TESDA Launch Training for Employment
By Agnes Celdran

In order to address the increasing need for Filipinos to secure jobs, specifically in the BPO industry, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, through the auspices of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the private-led organization Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPA/P), launched the project, Training for Employment on May 1, 2006. This PhP 500-million project, covering the cyber services industry, aims to train 100,000 near-hires, new graduates, the unemployed and undergraduates in skills related courses by the end of the year.

John Clements, along with other training vendors and schools, is part of this project, specifically to conduct training courses to improve the English skills of those who seek employment with call centers. Currently, John Clements, using the 100-hour training program, has 2 near-hire training classes being held.

Also, as an added service, John Clements conducted a two-day Training the Assessors course, to employees of TESDA on April 27 and 28, 2006. This course has given TESDA the skills to be able to assess the oral English proficiency levels of those applying to join this government program, and identify the recipients.