Tech-voc providers crucial to Kto12, vital to economy

CEBU, Philippines - Technical-vocational institutions play a key role in the implementation of the government's Kto12 education system which adds two more years to basic education curriculum, stakeholders said.

Bernard Restificar, president and chief executive of Cebu-based tech-voc institute Center for Healthcare Professions (CHP), said yesterday the Kto12 educational reform is good for companies offering technical-vocational education.

"We've seen the potential because many public schools may not have the facilities to implement the senior high school [of the Kto12]," Restificar said in an interview after a press conference yesterday.

Restificar said his company, for instance, has already sought approval from the Department of Education  to offer tech-voc courses starting next year to senior high students covered by the Kto12 system.

CHP's courses will be offered in the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu and province of Bohol. He said the company is to partner with private and public schools in these places to offer to their soon-to-be senior high learners its tech-voc courses.

The Kto12 lengthens basic schooling to include two-year senior high school (grades 11 and 12) to pave the way for the technical and vocational instruction to students not planning to proceed to college.

Doctor Fay C. Luarez, education program supervisor at DepEd in Mandaue City, said that more private tech-voc institutes can help in the system's full implementation next school year (2016-2017).

Luarez claimed that currently, not all public schools are equipped with enough resources and are capable of providing vocational instruction to students.

Local education officials called on private tech-voc education providers to make their training programs available to Kto12 senior high learners.

Restificar noted that his company is eyeing an absorptive capacity of 10,000 senior high students both for school-based training classes next year.

The Education department intends to implement a voucher-type subsidy for all eligible students enrolling in private schools, public or private higher-education institutions and tech-voc institutions.

Grade 10 students finishing from public junior high schools (JHSs) are automatically entitled to the full value of voucher while those finishing from private JHSs are to get 80 percent of the full voucher value which is P20,000 for places outside the National Capital Region and P22,500 for highly urbanized cities.

The chief executive explained the role of technical-vocational education is essential in economic growth as it provides the young people the right skills needed for both local and global employment.

"We mold our graduates to become highly competent and compassionate professionals who are globally competitive in the international labor market," he said.

According to the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), skills education is important for the future labor force.

Vocational courses include, among others, caregiving, culinary, housekeeping, massage therapy, practical nursing, household services and health care services.

Doctor Marcial Degamo, chief at the Quality Assurance Division of DepEd-Central Visayas, also pointed out that there is need to produce more skilled workers in the Philippines, something the Kto12 program wants to address.

He said that tech-voc education should be made more accessible to future workers. — Carlo S. Lorenciana (FREEMAN)