Lapus urges fresh grads to become entrepreneurs

CEBU, Philippines - Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Jesli Lapus is encouraging high school graduates to become entrepreneurs or to enhance their technical skills, if they find it difficult to pursue college education.

He said during his first public speech as DTI chief at the Sacred Heart Center before members of the Filipino Cebuano Business Club that this is the main objective why he changed the National College Entrance Examination (NCEE) to National Career Assessment Examination (NCAE).

“I wanted to encourage students to change their mindset from seeking jobs to being entrepreneurs or to enhance their technical skills, that being an entrepreneur or having a diploma in technical vocational education is not inferior to someone with a college diploma,” the former secretary of the Department of Education said.

Lapus introduced the NCAE in 2007 during his term. It was developed to assess the aptitudes of fourth year high school students and guide them in choosing an appropriate career path after graduation. A major part of the NCAE consists of general scholastic aptitude test but it tests as well three additional domains, namely technical-vocational aptitude, entrepreneurial skills and interest inventory. The exam is composed of scientific ability, mathematical ability, reading comprehension, verbal ability, manipulative skills, clerical ability, non-verbal ability, and entrepreneurial skills.

He said that his new post as DTI secretary will enable him to continue this advocacy of promoting entrepreneurship by intensifying DTI’s efforts to serve the private sector, especially the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Lapus’ innovation of promoting technical-vocational education at DepEd also address the growing employment mismatch arising from the inability of the new graduates to meet the skill requirements of the employees.

The DTI, together with the Go Negosyo movement led by Joey Concepcion has led the country’s advocacy to encourage Filipinos to engage in business in order to generate income and employment.

Encouraging Cebuanos to become entrepreneurs and provide jobs instead of seeking jobs has been the advocacy of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry.