Phase-out of oversubscribed courses proposed

THE Commission on Higher Education (Ched) is proposing a gradual phasing-out of oversubscribed courses starting school year 2012-2013 to prevent the further unemployment of thousands of graduates every year.

The proposed moratorium on over-subscribed degrees or frequently enrolled courses producing graduates more than what some industries need is one of the administration thrusts of Ched chair Patricia Licuanan.

“The overproduction of graduates of some courses where existing industries cannot accommodate all of them has resulted in the unemployment of thousands of graduates every year,” she explained.

Ched already declared a moratorium on the opening of new programs in oversubscribed disciplines like business administration, nursing, teacher education, hotels and restaurants management as well as information technology education.

Ched will also focus on the promotion of undersubscribed programs such as agriculture, mines and geosciences that have sure markets for graduates and encouraged incoming freshmen to enroll in these courses.

Una ang Pamilya party-list Representative Reena Concepcion Obillo, who is supportive of Ched’s decision, noted: “Sadly, most college students have been lured to enroll in a course with the end goal of working outside the country; a sentiment that has also been taken advantage of by some private schools to boost their enrollment and profit.”

She said by gradually phasing out oversubscribed courses, the government will be able “to re-focus the attention of our college students to courses that would boost other sectors like agriculture that also offers good job opportunities and consequently, a better future for their families and which the country could also benefit from.”

But Kabataan party-list Representative Raymond Palatino found it “highly disturbing that we are going to stop training new teachers and health workers when the country direly needs them, especially in poor and undeserved communities.”

He stressed the government should instead implement measures “to solve the real problem, which is job creation, decreasing government support for social services and active reliance on labor export.” (CGC)