STRENGTHENING TECH-VOC PROGRAM TO PROVIDE RELEVANT SKILLS DEMANDED BY INDUSTRY

The Department of Education is more resolute than ever to continue pushing for the strengthening of the Department’s Vocational Education Program.

With the belief that there is a need to provide relevant foundation skills for higher learning, employment or entrepreneurship among the youth, the Department of Education has initially targeted some 140 high schools where the strengthened tech-voc education program is currently being implemented. The number is expected to increase to about 261 tech-voc schools nationwide by school year 2009 to 2010.

Among the criteria used to determine which of the 261 technical-vocational schools in the Philippines will pilot the tech-voc curriculum include the existence of community linkages, leadership and advocacy level of the school administrator or principal, existence of a school improvement plan, local government support, quality of manpower and existing facilities. The relevance to the existing industry in the locality of the tech-voc high schools will also guide the department in establishing or strengthening specific skills and programs.

Tech-voc high schools are special schools and are treated differently due to unique needs of its students, academic requirements and curricular offerings, eared or dovetailed to a ladderized education program.

The decision to really put great stress on the technical-vocational program was heightened by the result of this year’s National Career Assessment Exam (NCAE), no less than Secretary Jesli Lapus confirmed.

Secretary Lapus said that part of the plan is to equip Filipino high school students with technical-vocational skills that can empower them to find meaningful employment, whether or not they pursue college education.

Based on the NCAE last January 17, out of the 1.3 million fourth year high school students who took the test, more than half of them have inclinations in courses that require Technical-Vocational (Tech-Voc) aptitude.Right after learning the results of the NCAE, the Department of Education (DepEd) has initiated the profiling of technical-vocational (tech-voc) high schools nationwide in order to assess their capability to implement the Technical-Vocational Education Curriculum for this school year.