THE recent changes in the educational curriculum are expected to foster better capital development among prospective job seekers, according to an official from the Department of Labor and Employment - Davao Region (Dole-Davao).
Lorraine Grace Ugsang, the employment focal person of Dole-Davao, said the Matatag curriculum introduced by Vice-President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, has the potential to shape the mindset of future job seekers, enabling them to adapt to emerging technologies readily.
Ugsang also pointed out that employers will increasingly demand enhanced technical and technological proficiencies from potential employees as the job landscape evolves.
“In alignment sa atong [new] technology, mo-align pod dapat ang atong jobseekers, kadtong mga basic na skills pwede nila palabwan pa kay naa na may nagasulod sa atoa nga mga bagong technology (With the rapid evolution of technology, it's imperative for our job seekers to align themselves with these advancements. Even those possessing foundational skills can further refine them, given the continuous influx of new technologies)," she said at the sidelines of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority - Davao Region (Tesda-Davao) and Public Employment Service Office-Davao City (Peso-Davao) joint job fair held at Almendras Gym on August 25.
She also underscored that specific roles might require specialized skills relevant to the job. For instance, the operation of agricultural drones, a technological advancement, has become a prerequisite for certain employers.
"Naa na ta sa fourth industrial revolution, so ang atong expectation is that mas i-require na tong mga technological skills (As we are in the midst of the fourth industrial revolution, we anticipate a heightened demand for technological skills among our future workforce)," Ugsang said.
She also said that in collaboration with Tesda, they can effectively train individuals to fill entry-level positions, "hard-to-fill jobs," and work in high demand.
One of the primary goals of DepEd's Matatag curriculum is to ensure its relevance in producing proficient and job-ready citizens who are proactive and responsible.
President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, meanwhile, reportedly emphasized that the Matatag program aims to strengthen the country's "international score," especially when it comes to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects. ICE