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In defense of JTPA
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Posted on Jul 21 1999
We feel that Jacob Villagomez made a bad judgment call about the public and private sector job sites. We, too, have had work experience in both sectors under the JTPA Program. We understand that it was his personal view, but that makes the other departments look bad.
We have no idea where he was stationed during those times, where he “just learned to look at the clock and wait for lunch or end of office hours,” but where we were stationed and have been stationed the previous summers, we gained a lot of experience and skills.
Last summer, we were assigned in the private sector. This office is Pacific Region for Education and Learning (PREL), with the Dr. Rita H. Inos as deputy director. We learned a lot of things there because we received a hands-on-training.
She would not just let us sit and wait for the day to be over. We always had something to do and she made sure we had fun doing it.
Now we’re under the Public School System also as JTPA trainees. We understand in some departments trainees tend to be ignored and left to fend for themselves. Here, we are with two other trainees also in PSS but different departments. Believe us, we do so much things that 4:30 PM comes by so fast and sitting to watch the clock is not one of them.
We work with the Commissioner of Education’s Office. Yes, that’s right, with Dr. Rita H. Inos, again. We really feel fortunate that we’re working with her again. She gives us chance to do things and master them. If we don’t know how to do it she just says, “be creative, use your imagination and common sense and it will turn out right,” which is really true. The other two trainees are stationed under the Deputy Commissioner and Procurement Department, and they also don’t just sit and wait for the time.
So you see, not all public sectors are like that. We feel sad that Jacob was unfortunate to have that experience, but we want to stress that not all the public sectors deserved to be shunned like this. In some places, locals are trained and encouraged to learn and master lifetime skills.
PSS JTPA TRAINEES
Eliza Iginoef
Andrew Borja
Lani DLGuerrero
