Ched addressing job mismatch situation

BECAUSE of the increasing cases of job mismatch in the country, the Commission of Higher Education (CHED) on Tuesday unveiled its list of “priority” courses recommended for incoming college students this academic year.

Chairman Dr. Patricia Licuanan said that they decided to issue the list of courses to ascertain the job opportunities for students who graduate from college.

Beneficiaries under the Commission’s Students Financial Assistance Program (STuFAP ) will also be directed to enroll in courses under the same list.

“In accordance with the pertinent provisions of the Higher Education Act of 1994 [Republic Act 7722], based on the national development plans, manpower demands for School Year 2011 to 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 to 2012 to 2015 to 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 (IT) including IT and computing studies, multimedia, animation, programming, computer science and 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 specializations 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; and teacher education with specialization in math, science, physics, chemistry, reading, english, and education media;, and special education and science and math.

Licuanan said that 10 percent of the enrollees should go for 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.

Among the courses categorized as “under-subscribed” by the commission were agriculture, fisheries and engineering as compared to “over-subscribed” programs like IT, teacher education, hotel and restaurant management, business administration and nursing.
A Memorandum Order 32 was earlier issued banning public and private higher education institutions from offering new undergraduate and graduate programs in the five oversubscribed courses.

Besides the increase in oversubscribed courses, there was a 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.

The Labor department has backed Licuanan’s position since it would help lower the number of unemployed graduates in the country.

Last year’s government records showed about 2.8 million Filipinos were unemployed, most of them 24 years old and below. –MARIA NIKKA U. GARRIGA, Manila Times