Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 18) —The House Committee on Basic Education and Culture has approved a measure giving graduates of Grade 10 or junior high school the option to take technical and vocational courses in their Grade 11 and 12 as preparation for college.
\”Ang graduates ng senior high is always parang OJT level. Hindi siya kino-consider na job-ready. Maybe the tech-vocational track, it’s better off with TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority), because at least ang TESDA, may training na, may assessment pa,\” Pangasinan Alliance of Private Technical Vocational Schools (PAPTVS) President Andre Abalos said on Wednesday.
[Translation: The graduates of senior high are always just like the OJT level, it’s not much considered as job-ready. Maybe the tech-vocational track, it’s better off with TESDA, because at least in TESDA, there is training and assessments.]
\”Because at the end of the day, kailangan natin ng NC2 so our senior high graduates will have a better chance of getting a job kahit entry level,\” he added, referring to National Certification II
[Translation: Because at the end of the day, we need NC2 so our senior high graduates will have a better chance of getting a job even if it’s entry level.]
The unnumbered substitute bill, also known as the proposed Educational Pathways Act, sought to raise the quality of basic education in the country, committee chairman and Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo said.
Under the measure, the Department of Education (DepEd) will develop and implement a comprehensive curriculum for Grades 11 and 12 that will prepare students for admission to colleges and universities.
TESDA, meanwhile said it will develop and offer a variety of programs designed to equip students with practical skills and competencies for specific industries. It will also facilitate apprenticeship programs and on-the-job training opportunities for students to gain practical experience.
Alliance of Concerned Teachers Chairperson Vladimer Quetua said any changes to the K-12 Law should go beyond curriculum changes. He said the bill should also address how to ease the heavy workload of teachers, as well as classroom shortage.
Abalos said TESDA is better qualified to implement the technical vocational track rather than DepEd since the former can assess the skills of students better.
DepEd Director Samuel Soliven admitted during the hearing that the agency lacks funds to provide free assessment of graduates of technical vocational courses in senior high school so they can obtain a national certification, which is sometimes required by employers.
