Tech-Voc Education and Training as a Mechanism for Social Value and Social Equity for Economically Disadvantaged Filipinos

Abstract

Educational attainment remains a persistent challenge in the Philippines, where nearly three-quarters of households have not completed a college degree. Within this landscape, technical-vocational education and training (TVET) has emerged as a critical alternative pathway, offering underprivileged Filipinos accessible, affordable, and industry-relevant skills training for employment, entrepreneurship, and lifelong learning. While TVET is widely recognized for its economic function, its broader contribution to social value and social equity among disadvantaged populations remains underexamined. This study addressed that gap by exploring how TVET functions as a mechanism for generating social value and advancing social equity among economically disadvantaged Filipinos. Using reflexive thematic analysis, narratives were drawn from interviews with 18 TVET graduates in Zamboanga City, Philippines.

Findings revealed two interrelated dimensions of TVET's impact. First, TVET generated social value by equipping participants with practical competencies that strengthened self-worth, confidence, and a sense of purpose, allowing them to overcome the social stigma often attached to limited formal education. These competencies, in turn, earned participants greater trust, recognition, and acceptance within their families, workplaces, and communities, while enabling them to contribute through employment, knowledge sharing, mentorship, and community service. Second, TVET advanced social equity by providing accessible opportunities for disadvantaged individuals to acquire industry-relevant skills, secure stable employment, and achieve upward social mobility, regardless of socioeconomic background or prior educational attainment. These findings carry important implications for policy and practice. They suggest that educational initiatives should more explicitly recognize TVET's role in fostering empowerment, inclusion, and social value—extending beyond conventional human capital framings that emphasize economic returns alone. In doing so, this study argues for a broader understanding of education as a means by which individuals transform acquired knowledge and skills into meaningful contributions that strengthen families, communities, and society.