Gatchalian mulls probe on employability of K-12 graduates

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is eyeing the possibility of conducting a Senate inquiry on the employability of K-12 graduates, as he also called for the Department of Education (DepEd) to expedite its review of the curriculum.

Gatchalian on Tuesday noted an April Jobstreet Philippines survey which found that only 24 percent of local employers are willing to hire K-12 graduates.

Another survey conducted by the Philippine Business for Education has revealed that three out of five companies are open to hiring K-12 graduates, while only one out of five are ready to do so.

“We need to hear straight from the top Philippine employers kung bakit sila hesitant na mag-hire ng (why they are hesitant to hire) K to 12 graduates,” Gatchalian, chair of the Senate Sub-Committee on Education Reform, said in a statement.

In July, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones said the agency will review the program after two years of its implementation. Initial results are expected to be released around February next year.

READ: DepEd will review K-to-12 curriculum – Briones

Gatchalian said he wants the review finished earlier “to give adequate time to adjust to curriculum for the next school year.”

“Dahil nga ang hangarin ng K to 12 ay mas madaling makakuha ng trabaho ang mga graduates nito, kailangan natin i-adjust ‘yong curriculum to prepare graduates for success based on the current and future needs of the labor market,” he said.

(Because the goal of the K to 12 is for the graduates to easily get jobs, we need to adjust the curriculum to prepare graduates for success based on the current and future needs of the labor market.)  /muf

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