Most graduating HS students only fit for vocational courses

CEBU, Philippines - Seventy percent of the graduating students from public high schools in Cebu City are fit only for vocational courses as shown in the results of the aptitude test conducted for incoming beneficiaries of the city government’s scholarship program.

Cebu City Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young, who chairs the council’s committee on education and the College Scholarship Program Committee, said that this shows the poor education that students get in school despite all the pronouncement of the Department of Education about the improving quality of education in the region.

Of the 6,228 graduating students who took the exam, 70 percent or over 4,000 fell in the category of “Immediate Employment Program” or vocational courses.

About 12 percent belonged to the group with the highest score and can therefore choose any of the courses they want to take as long as the course is in the list of courses allowed by the city. 18 percent are average students which are limited to take about 38 two-year to four-year baccalaureate courses.

Young said though that they made some adjustments in the qualification so more students will be able to avail of baccalaureate courses. This is because some companies like in the Business Outsource Processing only accept employees who have atleast two years of college attainment.

After the adjustments, 28.47 percent or about 1,773 are left to take vocational courses, 56.52 percent or about 3,520 students in Group 2 may take selected courses while 935 students in Group 1 may take any course they want.

Young said that they are taking the risk for the students because if they allow most of them to take vocational courses, there might be a surplus of welders and other vocational graduates.

“Besides, we do not have enough schools to accept voc tech students. We have chosen to give them the opportunity,” Young said.

He said that through the baccalaureate programs, students will improve their English and comprehension skills so they be able to immediately find jobs like in the call center.  (FREEMAN)