BOKOD, Benguet – For Kate Scott, training to become an electrician should be a source of pride, not something women should be afraid of.
She said girls are also capable of performing tasks which used to be identified as a field exclusive to men.
Scott said gender is not an issue in her course, Bachelor of Technical Vocational Teacher Education, in which training and practice to hone the skill in doing house electrical wiring is a foundation.
The 19-year-old lass from Barangay Daclan was undergoing a one-on-one practical examination with her professor in her house wiring subject at Benguet State University-Bokod campus early this week when interviewed.
Both hands holding pliers while fixing the wires, Kate said in Ilocano, “This is not just for men, women can do it too as long as you know the safety precautions.”
Her course does not only prepare her to become a licensed teacher but also a skilled electrician.
Now on her second year in college, she is determined to finish her studies, believing she could be as skilled as the men in the profession, for which she is arming herself with theoretical and practical training.
Scott recalled that her interest in the field started in high school. She said with the basic training she acquired in her Technical and Livelihood Education subject, she decided to take the course after graduation. “Gusto ko na iba naman sa mga kapatid ko),” she said.
Scott’s eldest sibling will soon be graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology degree. The second is taking up a food science course while the youngest is still in high school.
Cesar Miguel Suayan, Scott’s professor in Electrical Technology, said she is one of only two students who continued with the course amid the pandemic.
He said there used to be over a hundred students but the pandemic left only Scott and another male classmate in the roster. The others opted to stay at their family farm to tend to their crops.
“I offered to give one-on-one lecture because of the safety issue involved in handling electricity on their own at home and Kate responded,” Suayan said.
He said that for Scott to be able to practice a profession as an electrician, she needs to pass the licensure examination for teachers and acquire a national certification from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
Suayan also said Scott has always shown determination to learn and hone her skills. – PNA
April 24, 2024
