Are the Senior High School (SHS) Graduates of the K to 12 Program ready for work?

by: Lili Pad

This year, the first batch of students who have completed the K to 12 Program is expected to graduate. But are they really ready to apply for work?

There have been a lot of concerns on these students’ preparedness on finding and landing a job that requires a set of skills. According to Alberto Fenix, President of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), “majority of these 600,000, I don’t think they really got the sufficient training.” The minimum requirement for the students’ on-the-job training is 80 hours which is not enough to make them ready for the skilled jobs, said the PCCI.

On the other hand, these concerns of the PCCI will be taken into consideration by the DepEd but the current curriculum will continue. Undersecretary Tonisito Umali believes that SHS graduates for this
year are set up for work. “The curriculum was formed with the help of government agencies competent in these matters, including TESDA and CHED”, he added.

The K to 12 Program was implemented on the school year 2012-2013 with the objective to help students who can’t afford college education to still get a job.