(Eagle News) — Senator Sherwin Gatchalian is urging the Department of Education to expedite its review of the employability of K-12 graduates.
Gatchalian, chair of the Senate Sub-Committee on Education Reform, made the statement amid what he said were reports on the low employment rates of graduates of the program.
Earlier, Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that the “thorough review” would be conducted after two years of the program’s implementation.
Director Jocelyn Andaya of the Bureau of Curriculum Development said initial results were expected in February next year.
“We need to hear straight from the top Philippine employers themselves kung bakit sila hesistant na mag-hire ng K to 12 graduates,” Gatchalian said, referring to a survey conducted by Jobstreet Philippines in April that found that only 24 percent of Philippine employers are willing to hire fresh graduates of the K to 12 program.
He also noted another survey conducted by non-profit organization Philippine Business for Education (PBE) that showed that three out of every five companies are open to hiring K to 12 graduates, but only one in five are ready to do so.
“I hope the review would be finished as soon as possible to give adequate time to adjust the curriculum for next school year,” he added.
