KANANGA, Leyte-After their training was abruptly interrupted by supertyphoon “Yolanda”, the 130 trainees of the Kananga-EDC Institute of Technology (KEITECH)have graduated and fulfilled their dreams of a better life for their families. The trainees belong to the fifth batch of graduates completing the regular courses offered by the institution. Of the 130 graduates, 44 obtained national certifications in electrical installation and maintenance, 41 in metals and engineering, 25 in pipe fitting, and 20 in tourism.
Armed with the skills and values that they learned in KEITECH after 10.3 months of training and national certifications from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), KEITECH’s latest graduates can now look forward to employment opportunities with the institution’s 24 partner companies in Leyte, Cebu, and Manila. They can also seek employment abroad where their skills are in demand and valued. KEITECH’s aggressive placement program has increased the graduates’ employability. Of the 530 graduates from Year 1 to Year 5, 492 or 93% are already employed by our industry partners. For this batch of graduates, 49 who are still undergoing on-the-job training (OJT) at Keppel in Subic and Batangas have already signed up with Keppel management last April 7, 2015.
KEITECH has signed agreements with several companies which guarantee OJT for the trainees and possible employment after training. Most of these companies which include construction, shipping firms and hotels have renewed their contracts with KEITECH because of the superior performance of the graduates they employed.
Aside from the regular courses, KEITECH has offered a short-term (3 months) extension program on electrical installation and maintenance, plumbing and carpentry. This is part of the Lopez Group’s commitment to the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery (OPARR) to help in Leyte rebuilding projects. Under the program, KEITECH will provide training to 1,080 qualified members of households affected by Typhoon Yolanda and assist them in securing jobs in various reconstruction projects in the province.
KEITECH’s good track record and contribution to technological-vocational education in the region was formally recognized by TESDA. For two years in a row (2013 and 2014), KEITECH received TESDA’s Kabalikat award for being the best among TESDA’s institutional partners in Region 8.
Established in 2009, KEITECH is a joint project of geothermal leader Energy Development Corporation (EDC), the local government of Kananga and TESDA and aims to be a world-class technical-vocational training center.(PR)
