Electronics, manufacturing, hospitality among DepEd’s ‘priority sectors’

MANILA, Philippines — Electronics, manufacturing, and hospitality were among the initial list of “priority sectors” for the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF) in a bid to boost employability.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara last Friday convened the PQF National Coordinating Council (NCC), the body tasked with governing the program standardizing qualifications earned by Filipinos, and aiming to assist individuals in transitioning to the labor market.

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After consulting its partners in the private sector, DepEd named the following areas as priority sectors in an initial list in a statement on Tuesday:

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“A technical working group will be created to identify priority sectors with representation from [NCC] members and mandated agencies incorporating government development plans,” the department explained.

Republic Act 10968 established the PQF as a collaborative program between the DepEd, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda), the Commission on Higher Education (Ched), the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), and the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole).

The coordinating council also approved an updated organizational structure,e creating 22 new plantilla positions, DepEd said.

To assist in this revamp, the PQF-NCC tapped the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) to establish a permanent secretariat and provide interim staff and technical support.

“Setting up the PQF is a key reform that helps address the President’s priority to boost the employability of Filipino workers based on lifelong learning and more competitive skills building among Filipino youth,” DepEd remarked in the statement.

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