Technical and vocational education and training in the Philippines: experience and views of trainees

Aims to bring a new angle to, in fact to complete the triangle of, industrial training studies, which have focused on training institutions and the firms. The third angle, the trainees, has often been neglected, appearing only as figures, enrolment, drop‐outs, graduates, etc. A comprehensive policy on industrial training would be incomplete without appraising experience of trainees and taking their views seriously. Examines research based on three surveys among potential, current and past trainees. The experience and views of the trainees should be taken as a major parameter in technical and vocational education (TVET) strategy, planning and programme implementation. Finds that trainees have expressed clear views on the relevance of the TVET programmes they have attended/are attending, and on the quality of public and private training. Findings of the surveys have some relevance to labour market policy, specifically on mobility, labour turnover, labour market information and employment of women.