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MANILA, 09 August 2024 – In an effort to boost the employability of senior high school students, the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) Jobs Committee, through the Private Sector Jobs and Skills Corporation (PCORP), signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to pilot an enhanced work immersion program. The signing, which took place on August 8, 2024, in Malacañang Palace and was witnessed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., marks a significant public-private collaboration.

The PSAC Jobs members, together with PSAC strategic convener Sabin Aboitiz, organized PCORP as a non-profit, non-stock corporation as its legal entity to organize a well-coordinated government-industry-academe national movement to solve the jobs and skills mismatch problem in the country.

The MOA outlines key elements including an enhanced work immersion experience for students, curriculum alignment allowing more hours for students to learn skills aligned with current industry standards, teachers training to effectively guide students in their journey and lastly job fairs and matching opportunities nationwide.

This initiative aims to bridge the gap between theoretical education and practical industry experience, making students more attractive to potential employers.

Among the first responders from industry to open their doors to the enhanced work immersion program for senior high schools are the Semiconductors and Electronics Industries in the Philippines (SEIPI), IT Business Processing Association of the Philippines (IBPAP), Philippine Constructors Association (PCA), Confederation of Wearables Exporters of the Philippines (CONWEP), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP), iPeople through the National Teachers College (NTC), SM Group and Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (Go Negosyo).

Ten schools from north to south, including one specialized in the Alternative Learning System (ALS), is set to participate in the pilot program. These schools can choose focus areas such as IT-BPM, tourism and hospitality, agriculture and entrepreneurship, and manufacturing, sectors which are known for their high demand for workers and abundant job opportunities.

DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara is fully supportive of this important step towards student employability. “This MOA gives our students the opportunity to gain hands-on work experience while still studying.  In that way, it follows the President’s marching orders to us to do everything we can to improve the quality of our education and boost the chances of our graduates at landing better earning opportunities.”

DepEd and PSAC Jobs, along with school heads and industry partners, have been conducting workshops and consultations to establish guidelines for the pilot program that is set to begin in the 2024-2025 school year.

“This partnership marks a significant milestone in our efforts to prepare the next generation for the workforce. By collaborating with DepEd and industry leaders, we can ensure that our students are job-ready and equipped with the skills needed in today’s competitive job market,” stated Joey Concepcion, PSAC Jobs Committee Lead.

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