PCCI tackles jobs-skills mismatch due to K-12

MANILA, Philippines – The country’s largest business group the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), has formed a foundation to help address the jobs-skills mismatch.

According to the business group, it established the PCCI Human Resources Development Foundation (HRDF) to support the government’s K to 12 reform program, which covers kindergarten and 12 years of basic education and aims to enhance the competitiveness of the country’s labor pool.

“Our member-companies have a lot of jobs waiting to be filled, but we have always found it very difficult to recruit employees who are equipped with the skills necessary for us to become productive and competitive,” PCCI president Alfredo Yao said.

Through the PCCI HRDF, the private sector would play a part in improving the skills of the country’s work force through active involvement in technical-vocational education and training.

The business group is encouraging business chambers, industry associations and business enterprises to participate in the initiative.

“Since chambers of commerce and industry associations are mandated by the K to 12 law to help flesh out the curriculum and implementation of the education reform, we have started several projects, with the help of national and international partners, who will institutionalize the dualized training mode of instructional delivery in the formal school system. Our projects all aim to make the transition from school to workplace smooth and easy for Filipino youth,” PCCI HRDF president Alberto Fenix Jr., said.

The PCCI supports the K to 12 as it is expected to prepare the Filipino youth to immediately join the work force when they reach the age of 18.

“In addition, the K to 12 program also prepares high school graduates to become entrepreneurs and to join us by establishing their own businesses. In this way, they will themselves also create jobs,” Yao said.

Prior to the implementation of the K to 12, the Philippines was among the three countries worldwide which had a 10-year pre-university cycle. -Louella Desiderio (The Philippine Star)