A local official representing the Department of Education (DepEd) in Valenzuela City has confirmed his close coordination with various companies in the city to ensure that students will have an easier access to the on-the-job training (OJT) once K to 12 Program is being fully implemented in 2016.
Dr. Wilfredo Cabral, superintendent of DepEd’s Division of City Schools in Valenzuela City (DCS-V), said there is an ongoing consultation between their office and local industries to identify slots in their company that are open for internship program, which will be introduced to incoming Grade 12 students under the senior high school (SHS) curriculum.
“Even though we are only two years away (from the) School Year 2017 to 2018, it is important to systematize the internship program for K to 12 so that we can already help incoming Grade 12 students, who will usually be at around age 17 to 18 find jobs,” Cabral explained.
Related News: Valenzuela City to construct new public school buildings for K to 12
“We also want to address the problems that face our college students, who are usually having a hard time looking for companies that are willing to give them OJT. This had been a usual reason why students get delayed to march for graduation,” he explained.
Under the K to 12 program, Cabral noted that Grade 12 students will spend more than a third of the school year in work immersion to equip them with real-life job experience and prepare them for their chosen career after graduation.
As of early May, DCS-V has already identified over 60 companies that are willing to open more than 682 slots for students, who need to complete their internship program.
Out of these companies, six companies are willing to hire students that will pass their internship program, like San Miguel Corporation and Mega Tech Wires and Cables Inc.
In their stakeholder meetings, DCS-V also identified seven major skills employers are currently looking for Valenzuela City like Accountancy, Engineering, Construction, Entrepreneur, ICT, Health & Wellness, and Banking and Finance.
Other News: Swift passage of bill building math and science public schools urged
DCS-V also named 15 currently in-demand jobs within the city. These include:
– Accountant,
– Geodetic Engineer,
– Civil Engineer,
– Industrial Engineer,
– Electrical Engineer,
– Carpenter,
– Machine Operator,
– Heavy Equipment Operator,
– Driver,
– Electrician,
– Entrepreneur,
– Programmer, and
– Call Center Agents
“Our office will try to tie up with more companies that can provide OJT slots that are related to students’ in-demand skills and work,” Cabral said. (Tim Alcantara)
