City of San Fernando, Pampanga─With the four exits envisioned for Senior High School (SHS) graduates – higher education, entrepreneurship, employment, or middle-level skills development – the first batch of Grade 12 learners are about to become full-fledged contributors to social development and nation-building. The Department of Education (DepEd) is keen to note that the K to 12 Basic Education Program has equipped them with values, knowledge, and skills that communities, businesses, and industries need.

As of November 2, the total number of Grade 12 students in Region III is 74,435 in public senior high schools, 76,476 in private SHSs, and 2,599 in local or state universities and colleges. These students will be the first batch of SHS graduates who will complete the SHS Program in 2018.

Work Immersion is a key subject under the SHS Curriculum that may be conducted in different ways and time frame as needed by Senior High School (SHS) learners. The subject will provide learners with opportunities to become familiar with the work place; for employment simulation; and to apply their competencies in areas of specialization/applied subjects in authentic work environments.

Specifically, DepEd Order No. 30, series 2017 (DO 30, s. 2017), or Guidelines for Work Immersion, provides learners with access to industry partners’ facilities and employment simulation where they are given opportunities to apply their competencies, gain practical industrial skills, and develop good work ethics and values relevant to pursuing further education and/or joining the world of work.

Under DO 30, s. 2017, a learner is required to render a minimum of 80 hours for Work Immersion. Consequently, as provided by law, a child below the age of 18 but older than 15 must spend a maximum of 40 hours per week and no more than eight hours per day in the work immersion venue.

The same issuance does not limit a learner’s practical work experience hours to 80 hours and offers several delivery models from which schools may choose based on the number of hours (80 hours, 240 hours, 320 hours); learner’s purpose and needs; school capabilities and compliance to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and DepEd Work Immersion Guidelines. Schools may also design their own delivery model as they deem fit for a specific situation or concern, subject to the approval of the Regional Office.

In Region III, 1475 out of 1,477 SHS learners who voluntarily took the National Certification Assessment passed the said test or a 99% passing rate.

The K to 12 Program was crafted in close coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), TESDA and representatives of business community. It aims to produce lifelong learners who are locally and globally competitive, and ready to pursue their desired path.