RP seen to solve job-skills mismatch via OJT program

The country is seen to solve job-skills mismatch problem in three years through on the job training (OJT) and dual tech program being espoused by the National Competitiveness Council (NCC).

In a press conference, Personnel Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP) president Emerico O. de Guzman said graduates of the dual tech program has 90 percent more chance of landing a job upon graduation than those who finished in the normal universities and colleges.

“The companies would prefer to hire somebody they already know. After two years of studying with them, the student upon graduation will be ready to join the workforce immediately,” de Guzman explained.

Under the dual tech program, the student will combine formal education with OJT for two years. The company where the student finishes its OJT will shoulder the two-year education.

According to the Semiconductors and Electronics Industries in the Philippines (SEIPI), most fresh graduates need six months training before they can be productive in the company.

As such, NCC co-chair Ambassador Cesar B. Bautista proposed SEIPI and other private sector groups sit down and discuss changes in the school curriculum.

 ”The schools must teach skills that the students need in the workplace. For example in engineering, some schools spend too much time on power plants when in fact they should be teaching other areas,” he noted.

“This will partly solve the mismatch problem,” Bautista continued.

Don Bosco, with its 40 schools located all over the country, is leading the dual tech program. Other schools offering it are the Meralco Foundation and the Dual tech foundation.

For this school year, 40,000 are expected to graduate from the dual tech program. In three years time, it will balloon to 200,000.

The job mismatch, de Guzman said leads to underemployment. Currently, most of the people employed in call centers are over qualified. He said in other countries, call center agents need not be university graduates. The problem of underemployment is the reason why there is a high turn over rate for call centers.

Data showed the turn over rate to be 50 percent. He said the number will go down to 20 percent with the proper selection process.

“The recruitment officer should put to clever use the resources of the company. The workers need not come from the best schools,” de Guzman said.

To help students identify which sectors have good work opportunities, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has identified eight priority sectors with hard to fill jobs. The sectors are mining; hotels and restaurants; shipbuilding; agribusiness; maritime; health, wellness and medical tourism; construction and cyberservices.