K-12

Sen. Bam to DepEd: Ensure graduates’ employability, don’t ignore employers

Senator Bam Aquino urges the Department of Education to strengthen academic-industry linkages and make sure K-to-12 graduates are ready to enter the workforce.

 “Student readiness to enter the workforce is a serious issue that is better addressed by developing strong relationships between schools and companies, what we call academic-industry linkages,” said Sen. Bam.

“Huwag natin balewalain ang kinabukasan ng mga K-to-12 graduates. Mahalagang makonsulta ang employers at mga kinatawan ng industriya upang matiyak na handa nang magtrabaho ang K-to-12 graduates,” Sen. Bam added.

Sen. Bam issued the reaction after Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) expressed concern over the lack of minimum on-the-job training requirements among the first batch of K-to-12 students.

 The PCCI said the first batch of K-to-12 students only have 80 hours or two weeks of OJT experience, making them unqualified for available jobs.

 “The Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education should have dynamic curriculum that can address concerns of current and future employers,” said Sen. Bam.

The senator also called on concerned government agencies to come up with a process that will regularly assess education curriculum vis-a-vis necessary skills needed for jobs

As former chairman of the Senate Committee on Education in the 17th Congress, Sen. Bam filed Senate Bill No. 1278 or Trabaho Centers in Schools Act, which seeks to establish job placement offices in public high schools and state universities and colleges (SUCs).

 The measure mandates the establishment of a Trabaho Center in every public high school and SUC with main services that include: 1) Industry Matching, 2) Career Counseling, and 3) Employment Facilitation.

 Trabaho Centers should address the skills mismatch and ensure employability of students upon graduation by using feedback from employers to better develop the school’s curriculum and training programs.

  Sen. Bam is also the principal sponsor of the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, making college tuition and miscellaneous fees free in public universities, colleges and TESDA-run technical-vocational institutions.

Senate Bill No. 170: Trabaho Center In Schools Act

This year marks the final stage of the K-12 curriculum roll out with the nationwide implementation of Senior High School (SHS). An additional two years of secondary schooling will provide specialized academic tracks to prepare students for postsecondary education or alternatively, equip them for employment directly after high

school.

There is a need to follow through on the intent of K to 12 and provide the infrastructure for Senior High School graduates who chose to enter employment to be able to find those opportunities.The creation of a job placement office through the Trabaho Center aims to address this need.

There are three main things that the Trabaho Center shall focus on: Career Counseling Services, Employment Facilitation and Industry Matching.

Career Counseling Services shall be offered to help guide the students on the tracks they choose in Senior High School.

Employment Facilitation is envisioned to assist the needs of a job seeker or the senior high school student. This includes but shall not be limited to resume writing, pre-employment seminars and job fairs.

Industry Matching on the other hand aims to address the needs of the industries by providing graduate listings and resume profiling of students to companies. Close coordination with PESO and TESDA are also needed to have a thorough database of job opportunities in the localities and to immediately coordinate further training that might be needed with TESDA based on particular employment opportunities.

The Trabaho Center is envisioned to be the first institutionalized office in all senior high schools that is mandated to aid in facilitating employment for all Senior High School graduates. 

Through the Trabaho Center, the needs of our nation’s graduates, businesses in the country, and the vision of the Department of Education come together to make the most of our curriculum reform and help us move closer to shared prosperity. 

In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly sought.

 

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