30/09/2015
How frustrating and disappointing to learn that after my FRONT OFFICE students took their TESDA NC II assessment today, ( which by the way were only 10 students) please see below the experience that they shared with me:
1. They were only asked to perform one activity which was creating a Reservation using a property management system. --- WELL, MY STUDENTS OF COURSE WERE ABLE TO DO IT ! HOW CHALLENGING, RIGHT???
2. During their Oral interview, they were each asked mostly the same question which was to identify the different towels provided and to also itemize the usage of the 3 drawers in a cabinet inside the guest room.and how the beddings should be done .... STUDENTS WERE DEFINITELY SURPRISED AND UNFORTUNATELY WAS NOT ABLE TO GIVE THE RIGHT ANSWERS THE ASSESSOR WAS EXPECTING. PLEASE TELL ME IF THESE ARE CONSIDERED RELATED AND RELEVANT TO BECOMING A QUALIFIED FRONT OFFICE NC II CERTIFICATE HOLDER ????
3. When asked about rooming in a guest, the Assessor specifically took notice of the lack in their spiel of not being able to describe complete usage of the telephone in the guest room. The students were also told that the amenities in the bathroom should likewise be itemized.
-----Wow!!! HE MUSNT HAVE HEARD OF HOW STATING THE OBVIOUS COULD LEAVE AN IMPRESSION !
4. During luggage handling , they were also told thay they should know too the proper " body mechanism" when picking up a luggage.-- HOW COULD THIS BE OF MAIN RELEVANCE TO A FRONT OFFICE ASSOCIATE'S MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ESPECIALLY WHEN HANDLING MAJOR ROLES OF PERFORMING A CHECK IN AND CHECK OUT NEEDS MORE LEARNING AS THESE ARE CRITICALLY MORE GIVEN FOCUS WHEN WORKING ESPECIALLY IN FIVE STAR OR LUXURY HOTELS. ???
5. Lastly before ending his assessment at noon , the assessor announced that they will no longer be asked to perform a role play/simulation as he needs to leave soon for a meeting. ----HOW UNUSUAL WHEN A STANDARD ASSESSMENT ACTIVITY WOULD LAST THE WHOLE DAY !
As an industry practitioner for many years whose experience was mainly with reputable hotel brands , 5 star and luxury hotels, and now advocating on molding future hoteliers as a lecturer, I feel more of being short changed and insulted, with TESDA assessors such as this person who was sent to our school to assess for our students. With this ASEAN integration, I hope that the executives and directors of TESDA including TIFBI seriously looks into this as in so far with our experiences with Front office assessors, he is truly the worst. We hope that these TESDA Front office assessors are re-evaluated if they are truly qualified to be one... We certainly are not happy with this kind of feedback from students, despite the fact of the quality of education and intensive training that we give them. Its short of saying that the students feel that they should not have enrolled in our school and should have directly went to TESDA and apply for a scholarship instead. After today's assessment, They were all given a COMPETENT outcome, but however did not make them feel that they were.
Now, I really can't blame some hotels who can't put their trust and confidence in hiring a Front office certificate II passer. This is unfair to students who have been trained VERY WELL!