Senator Win Gatchalian pitched anew his proposed ‘Batang Magaling Act’ (Senate Bill No. 2367) to boost the employability of senior high school graduates.
Gatchalian reiterated his push for the proposal following discussions between President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and incoming Secretary of Education Sonny Angara. According to the incoming Department of Education (DepEd) chief, President Marcos said he wants to ensure that senior high school graduates have the necessary credentials and skills to get employed. For Gatchalian, the passage of the ‘Batang Magaling Act’ will achieve this goal. The proposed measure will also ensure that senior high school graduates have the skills, knowledge, and training even if they choose higher education, middle-level skills development, or entrepreneurship as their exit from the program.
“Patuloy nating isinusulong ang Batang Magaling Act upang paigtingin ang kahandaan ng ating senior high school graduates para makapagtrabaho. Kung hindi natin maipapakita sa ating mga kababayan ang dagdag na benepisyo ng dalawang taon sa high school, dadami ang ating mga kababayang hindi makukuntento sa programang K to 12,” said Gatchalian, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.
The Batang Magaling Act proposed the creation of the National Batang Magaling Council composed of the DepEd, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the Department of Labor and Employment, three national industry partners, a national labor group, and the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines. The Council shall align schools’ curricular offerings and the senior high school program’s work immersion component with market needs identified by industry partners and government agencies. It will also increase the awareness and commitment of industry partners and government agencies to accept learners in the work immersion programs, ensure that their deployment is done according to their tracks, and enable learners to acquire specialized skills and competencies to advance in their chosen paths.
