Private sector groups commit to improving senior high grads’ employability

Several private sector groups said they would support the Department of Education (DepEd) in improving the employability of senior high school graduates.

“The job market continues to present challenges to recent graduates who are entering a competitive environment. There is a continued mismatch between the guaranteed skills and preparedness of SHS graduates and their actual skills, discouraging employers from hiring them,” the joint statement read.

“This, coupled with concerns regarding learning gaps in basic education, continues to create a barrier to successful employment,” it further read.

The joint statement was signed by several organizations representing different sectors including the Philippine Business for Education, Makati Business Club, Private Sector Council, Philippine Business for Social Progress,  Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry - Human Resource Development Foundation, Private Sector Jobs and Skills Corp., People Management  Association of the Philippines, Employers Confederation of the  Philippines, Philippine Constructors Association, IT & Business  Process Association of the Philippines, Employers Confederation of the  Philippines, Analytics and AI Association of the Philippines, Management Association of the Philippines, and the Philippine Food Manufacturers and Exporters, Inc.

While there is an increase in willingness among employers to hire senior high school graduates, the groups said that the private sector could help enhance students' skills and support DepEd in developing a prepared workforce.

Among the assistance that the private sector could provide in improving the employability of Grade 12 students include providing inputs to the present curriculum, longer hours, and more targeted work immersion programs, providing industry-relevant training opportunities to teachers and instructors, and reviewing hiring processes and policies.

“We also believe that to effectively address the pervasive learning crisis, we must prioritize improvements in both senior high school and early childhood education and nutrition,” the groups said.

“We  will support the Department, wherever we are able to, in remediation,  infrastructure, equipment, technology, and other supporting systems that will help students learn better.”

The addition of two more years in high school, or the K-12 curriculum, was patterned after schools worldwide to boost employability even with a high school diploma.

The first batch of Grade 11 students were welcomed in 2016.

However, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said that the K-12 program was unable to achieve its goal of raising the employability of graduates.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara, for his part, said that he would discuss adjusting government job qualifications with the Civil Service Commission so senior high school graduates could be hired.

Meanwhile, former DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte inked two joint memorandum circulars with the Technical Education and Skills  Development Authority, the Commission on Higher Education, and the  Department of Labor and Employment to integrate technical and vocational education and training in the senior high school curriculum. — DVM, GMA Integrated News