FOUR foreign business chambers gave their full support to the government’s K to 12 Program, as a means of providing students with better education and in addressing the country’s jobs-skills mismatch.
The European, German, Korean and United States business chambers joined eight other industry partners in signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Department of Education (DepEd) to undertake collaborative work in providing support activities to students and teachers.
Among the activities lined up include work immersions, teacher training, employment assistance and addressing of resource gaps through donations.
European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines President Guenter Taus said the government was in the right path when it expanded the country’s basic education to the K to 12 Program.
“We have been supportive of the K to 12 Program because education is certainly the most important thing that you have in your country. Especially with the growing economy, we need a much-better prepared labor force. We have 800 member-companies and they all support this MOU,” Taus said.
He estimated the K to 12 Program would benefit half of the graduates should they decide to work and not pursue a college degree.
For his part, Korean Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines President Ho-ik Lee said their business chamber and 400 member-companies are also very supportive of the K to 12 Program.
“Our member-companies are constantly looking for qualified personnel,” Lee said, while adding that these companies are willing to take K to 12 graduates who have decided not to pursue higher education.
Education Secretary Armin A. Luistro said the MOU with the private sector for the K to 12 Program signals an increased level of cooperation on both sides.
“If in the past our partnerships were merely focused on support with NGOs [non-governmental oraganizations] and the industry sector to augment the limited resources of the national and local government for the education sector, namely, building classrooms, providing seats and computers and other types of funding, this type of partnership brings it to another level entirely,” Luistro said.
The DepEd pledged to mobilize its regional and division offices in giving necessary assistance to partner organizations for the effective implementation of support activities.
Under the MOU, the private-sector partners will collaborate to offer relevant senior high-school subjects and activities to prepare students for higher education, employment, or in setting up their own businesses.
Moreover, MOU will provide support to the DepEd in jobs profiling and skills mapping in the areas where they have operations; partner with the local DepEd offices or specific schools by providing support and opportunities for student work immersion; training of teachers; use of facilities; and, whenever possible, assist in addressing gaps through donations; and to providing of employment.
Aside from the four foreign business chambers, those who signed the MOU included the Chamber of Commerce of the Philippine Islands, Employers Confederation of the Philippines, Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines, Makati Business Club, People Management Association of the Philippines, Philippine Business for Education, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Semiconductor and Electronics Industry of the Philippines Inc.
The support of the business sector was vital in the passage of the Enhanced Basic Education Act.