TESDA Scholarship Programs

At present, there are 3 TESDA Scholarship Programs that offers educational grants and financial assistance to qualified and deserving Filipinos and TVET enrollees in every regions of the country and these are the PESFA, TWSP, and the STEP.

PESFA or Private Education Student Financial Assistance scholarship program was started with the enactment of R.A. 8545 otherwise known as the Expanded Government Assistance to Students and Teachers in Private Education (GASTPE) Act. PESFA or Private Education Student Financial Assistance scholarship program of TESDA offers educational grants to qualified and deserving college freshmen both in degree and non-degree courses. Given below are the details for the PESFA sholarship program of TESDA

TESDA PESFA Scholarship Program Qualifications

• Must be High School graduate
• At least 15 years old
• Have taken the National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE) or have undergone the Youth Profiling for Starring Careers (YP4SC)
• Have an annual family income of not more than Php120,000.00
• Must not be a recipient of any previous TESDA scholarships (2006 to 2013)

TESDA PESFA Scholarship Program Requirements

• Copy of High School Report Card/Diploma
• Copy of NCAE or YP4SC result
• Annual Income Tax Return or Certificate of Compensation Payment/Tax Withheld for the previous year or Certificate of Exemption from Payment of Income Tax Return  

On the other hand, TWSP or Training for Work Scholarship Program of TESDA was started in May 2006 with funding from the Office of the President and as a response to the industry's demand for critical skills in various industry sectors especially the Business Process Outsourcing or BPO, Construction, Metals and Engineering, Tourism, and more. Given below are the qualifications and benefits given under the TWSP or Training for Work Scholarship Program of TESDA.

TESDA Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) Qualifications

• Must be at least eighteen (18) years old at the time the scholar finishes the training program;
• Educational attainment shall be based on industry requirements or as prescribed in the applicable Training
• Pursuant to the Special Provision of the 2014 GM, priority is given to those who are from regions or provinces where the absolute number of poor residents and the incidence of poverty are high. The regional and provincial offices shall ensure that these areas are provided access to TWSP
• Other clientele groups such as persons with disability (PWDs), indigenous people, solo parents and their children and senior citizens shall be afforded access to scholarship opportunities in the qualifications/courses where they can qualify. OFW returnees, members of the families of AFP and PNP personnel killed in military and police operations and other marginalized groups may also avail of the scholarship program subject to pre-qualification
• Other industry requirements shall be considered, as may be required by the employers/industry associations

TESDA Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP) Benefits

• The TWSP scholars shall be entitled to free training and assessment. The approved TWSP standard costing for training and assessment shall be applied strictly. The TVIs shall not exact additional fees (such as fees for IDs and uniform) from the beneficiaries of this program

The third TESDA scholarship program is STEP or Special Training for Employment Program. This TESDA scholarship program is a community-based specialty training program that addresses the specific skills needs of the communities to promote employment, particularly through entrepreneurial, self-employment, and service-oriented activities. Training programs offered thru STEP are generally short-term and modules based on the Training Regulations promulgated by TESDA. Its objective is to provide skills and training opportunities for the beneficiaries in the barangays/ communities to make them employable and productive. Specified below are the qualifications and benefits given to beneficiaries of the STEP scholarship of TESDA:

TESDA STEP Scholarship Qualifications

• At least fifteen (15) years old at the start of the training program
• Preference shall be given to beneficiaries belonging to indigent families under the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction, Informal Sector families and to those under the next lower poverty level as determined by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)
• Must not be currently a beneficiary of other government educational scholarship and subsidy program

TESDA STEP Scholarship Benefits

• The trainee shall be entitled to free training and assessment including the training allowance computed at Sixty Pesos (Php60.00) per training day. The approved STEP standard costing per TESDA Circular No. 13, Series of 2014 shall be applied strictly. The TVIs shall not exact additional training fees from the beneficiaries of this program
• Starter toolkits shall also be given to each trainee at the end of the training program 

For additional information or question regarding any of the TESDA Scholarship Programs, please visit the nearest TESDA District or Provincial Office in your area.