TESDA seeks BID help in tracking unlicensed English schools
Believe it or not but out of at least 50 language training centers in Iloilo City catering to visiting Koreans, only one is duly licensed and authorized to operate.
And with some twenty more under construction or newly-opened, only one is processing its registration for it to legally and rightfully operate.
A clear violation on a government-drawn Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), remedial measures are underway with the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) regional office 6 at the helm of the correcting matter. This, as BID's help was sought by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) here following the seeming exodus of language centers all over Iloilo.
In a letter sent to the BID, TESDA furnished Alien Control Supervisor retired Police Senior Superintendent Francisco Artuz its report identifying Neo International Language Center in Arguelles Street, Jaro, Iloilo City as the sole certified and registered center.
Neo International duly registered its six-month Developmental Communication Course of 460 hours with TESDA covered with Certificate of Program issued March 21, 2003.
On the other hand, the only one with registration under process is the Iloilo English Center in Luna Street, Lapaz, Iloilo City for its English Language Proficiency course of 130 hours.
The BID in a MOA with the Department of Tourism, Department of Foreign Affairs and TESDA addressed the English tutorials as second language tour program.
"It has been noted though that an increasing number of English Language Centers / Schools / Camps / Academies have been operating in Iloilo, particularly those catering to Korean nationals/groups," TESDA Provincial Director Lorena Yunque wrote the BID. "May we therefore seek your assistance in ensuring that foreign students seeking entry in the Philippines to study English as Second Language are admitted to language centers with programs registered by TESDA pursuant to the subject MOA and in compliance with TESDA regulations."
Yunque in seeking for BID's help further explained that compliance is pursued if only to ensure the efficient conduct of the said second language tour program.
And this, she stressed "vis-a-vis ensuring the participating tourist's compliance with the conditions of their authorized stay in our country."
Coverage of the MOA applies to Philippine registered and accredited tour operators handling ESL tour programs including their foreign counterparts.
Monitoring further called on all government agencies concerned to ensure that requirements, terms and conditions under the MOA "are duly complied with and maintained by the concerned Philippine Language training center and tour operator."
Pursuant to BID Memorandum Order No. ADD-02-006, foreign students may be granted the authority to be admitted in a language center provided the program is registered with TESDA.
BID is also empowered to cause the exclusion or deportation of any individual or group of persons belonging to tour groups of a duly accredited local tour operator in the event of failure to comply with entry requirements.
In a chance interview, Artuz confirmed to The News Today (TNT) that letters have been sent out by his office to various language centers attended by Korean students here. Artuz is confident of immediate action from the language center management with TESDA likewise awaiting for a complete report of all unlicensed language training centers by first week of January.