Poe urges private sector to hire K to 12 grads

Senator Grace Poe urged the private sector on Wednesday to give “decent and fulfilling employment” to K to 12 program graduates.

The senator filed Senate Resolution No. 700, calling on the private sector to hire the first batch of senior high school graduates (SHS) and allow them to experience actual work.

“The successful implementation of the reforms under Republic Act No 10533 or the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 requires the cooperation of the private sector, as they comprise a major part of the demand-side of the job market, and can thus allow or prevent K to 12 graduates from finding decent and fulfilling employment,” Poe said in a statement.

Poe filed the resolution amid concerns on the job readiness of K to 12 graduates.

These concerns, including the minimum on-the-job (OJT) training hours of SHS graduates, were raised by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI). The PCCI said the 80-hour or two-week long minimum requirement for OJT hours of SHS students were “not enough” for them to be ready to join the workforce.

In response to the PCCI’s concerns, the Department of Education (DepEd) had assured that K to 12 graduates were job-ready and well-equipped to work in communities, businesses, and industries.

The DepEd said it was confident that its strong partnerships with different industry partners enable SHS graduates to strike a balance between theory and practice.

“One of the key selling points of the K to 12 Act when it was being deliberated in plenary by Congress was that graduates of the basic education system would be immediately ready for employment,” Poe said.

The senator said hiring the first batch of K to 12 graduates would ensure the successful implementation of the law. /je