Hire SHS graduates - Angara

INCOMING Education Secretary Juan Edgardo Angara on Wednesday urged government agencies and companies to hire senior high school (SHS) graduates in jobs that require simple tasks.

Angara said most job qualifications in the country still demand college degrees, making the promise of K–12 employability «undelivered.»

«This is not solely the fault of schools. The employers and even government agencies, they always demand [applicants] to be college graduates. If the tasks are simple, why college graduates?» he said.

Senator Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara. PHOTO BY J. GERARD SEGUIA

Angara will replace Education Secretary Sara Duterte, who earlier launched a review of the K–12 curriculum due to some challenges since its official launch in 2012.

«We want to convince employers, even starting with the government agencies, lower-level jobs should be filled by K–12 graduates,» he said.

Angara said he would wait for the result of the K–12 curriculum review to identify the needed revisions and address the skills mismatch and employability challenges.

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Meanwhile, DepEd spokesman Michael Poa said once enacted, Senate Bill 2367 or the Batang Magaling Act, which seeks to revise the eligibility requirements for government employment in consideration of SHS graduates, would help boost their employability, with government agencies setting the example of applicable qualification standards.

Angara also called for a holistic approach in terms of improving the education system, including a more flexible option, such as ladderized education.

The Commission on Higher Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and Department of Labor and Employment have partnered with the DepEd to provide free assessments for certification to SHS-Technical Vocational Livelihood Track graduates in May to help them become more employable.

Under two joint memorandum circulars, these government agencies will fund the graduates' assessment for National Certificates I and II and embed technical and vocational education and training into all SHS tracks.

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