BAGUIO CITY—Concerned with the quality of education offered in language schools, a city councilor wants technical, vocational and foreign language schools in the City of Baguio to register with Technical Educational and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) before the grant of a business permit.


Atty. Betty Lourdes Tabanda, author of the proposed ordinance said technical, vocational and foreign schools must first register with the Unified Technical Vocational Education and Training Program Registration and Accreditation System (UTPRAS) of TESDA.

The UTPRAS shall see to it that programs being offered by the schools meet the minimum requirement in pursuit of quality formal and non-formal education system, she said.

Tabanda said,at present, the city government does not require an UTPRAS registration for technical, vocational and language foreign schools for new application and renewal of business permit, adding, several schools are operating only on the basis of a business permit.

“Because of this practice, the schools operate outside the guidance and monitoring of TESDA. There is no assurance that the curriculum being offered has satisfactorily met the prescribed minimum standards anchored on competency-based system.”

The proposed ordinance said, “The city government should see to it that all TVET programs in the curriculum being offered by these schools are consistent with the prescribed minimum standards set by TESDA.”

“The Business and Permits Licensing Division and the City Treasurer’s Office shall require the submission of a copy of UTPRA registration before processing of the Business Permit can proceed,” the proposal stated.

“Failure on the part of the applicant or institution to present a copy of UTPRAS registration shall be a valid basis for refusal to grant the Business Permit,” provided, however, “the applicant be given a period of 30 days to comply with this requirement,” the proposal further stated.

Tabanda said, the proposed resolution not only addresses the problem of quality education, but, it will also protect those in the academe sector and employees of the schools or institutions.—larry madarang