Ched addresses job mismatch, bares priority courses

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

ALARMED by the growing mismatch between the skills of graduates and the needs of the job market, the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) on Tuesday bared the “priority” courses in tertiary education that it would like college students to take this coming academic year.

Beneficiaries of the Commission’s Students Financial Assistance Program (STuFAP) will also be directed to enroll in the said priority courses.

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Ched Chairperson Dr. Patricia Licuanan said they decided to issue the list of courses to ensure that they will have the skills and expertise they can use to find jobs when they finish their schooling.

“In accordance with the pertinent provisions of the Higher Education Act of 1994 (RA 7722), based on the national development plans, manpower demands for School Year 2011-2015 and the Department of Labor and Employment Jobs Fit 2020 Vision and in view of the Commission’s En Banc resolution dated March 14, 2011, the following are the priority courses that shall be followed within the next five years or from School Year 2011-2012 to 2015-2016 where the incoming grantees of the STuFAP will be directed to enroll,” Licuanan said in her memorandum addressed to the Commission’s regional offices.

Among the courses listed as priority are Information Technology including IT and Computing Studies, Multi-Media, Animation, Programming, Computer Science, IT Systems Management; Agriculture and Related Fields such as Agro-Forestry, Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural Engineering, Agri-Business Management, Agri-Tech and Fisheries; Engineering and its related specialization like Mechanical, Electronics, Metallurgical, Computer, Biomedical, Geodetic, Electrical Meteorological, Mining and Geological; Health Sciences such as in Pharmacy, Radiological and Medical Technology; Arts and Humanities; Atmospheric Science and Environmental Science; Teacher Education with specialization in Math, Science, Physics, Chemistry, Reading, English, Education Media; Special Education; and Science and Math.

Licuanan said 10 percent of the enrollees should go to IT courses and Science and Math, 15 percent each in Agriculture, Teacher Education and Health Sciences, 20 percent in Engineering and 5 percent each in Arts and Humanities, Atmospheric Science and Environmental Science.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Engineering are among the courses that Ched has said were “undersubscribed” or those who have fewer numbers of enrollees and students compared to such “oversubscribed” program as IT, Teacher Education, Hotel and Restaurant Management, Business Administration and Nursing.

Licuanan then issued Memorandum Order No. 32 banning public and private higher education institutions from offering new undergraduate and graduate programs in the five oversubscribed courses.

Ched data showed that enrolment in agriculture, fisheries and forestry and veterinary medicine actually declined in a 10-year period from academic year 1999-2000 to 2010-2011.

In 1999-2000, the enrolment stood at 85,266 followed by 87,492 in the succeeding academic year, 94, 900 in 2001-2002, 84, 609 in 2002-2003, 78, 201 in 2003-2004, 70, 824 in 2004-2005, 63, 913 in 2005-2006, 59, 397 in 2006-2007, 58, 168 in 2007-2008, 63, 312 in 2008-2009, 59, 692 in 2009-2010 and 49, 823 this academic year.

In the same period, enrolment in business administration courses rose from 632,760 in 1999-2000 to the present 634,073, medical and allied courses which includes nursing from 150,634 to 654,611 in the same period while the figure for information technology courses have also seen a marked increase from 205,663 to 317,728.

Licuanan said they are also coordinating with the colleges and universities and other stakeholders to ensure the quality of the degree programs they are offering.

Coupled with the increase in enrolment in the oversubscribed courses was the decline in the performance level across all programs in licensure examinations administered by the Professional Regulatory Commission from 38 percent in 2006 to 36.50 last year.

Licuanan’s position on the oversubscribed courses has gotten the support of Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz saying that it would help decrease the number of unemployed graduates in the country.

Baldoz said Ched’s moratorium complement the Labor department’s efforts to provide relevant market information and employment options to students.

Kabataan party-list Representative Raymond Palatino earlier said the government should ensure quality jobs for the fresh graduates.

“In a country where quality jobs are scarce, finding a job will be a real challenge for our new graduates. I urge President Aquino to improve the government’s job plan for our graduates and unveil this plan to the public," Palatino said.

The lawmaker likewise said that government agencies in charge of employment should go beyond career orientation and employment coaching seminars.

The Labor department last week said it will conduct career-orientation seminars for fresh graduates, while enjoining them to register in online job search portals to make themselves available to employers.

Last year's government records showed around 2.8 million Filipinos were unemployed, most of them are 24 years old and below. (AH/Sunnex)