Senatorial candidates Luke Espiritu and Risa Hontiveros on Saturday stated their positions on the country's education system, particularly on how the shift to online learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a gap between the skills of graduates versus the increasingly competitive demands of the labor market.
The first batch of the country's K to 12 basic education program that was implemented during the late President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III will be graduating from college this year. Having spent the last two years of their degree through remote learning, what can our country's legislators do to help them find their places in the job market?
First time Senatorial candidate Espiritu and reelectionist Hontiveros were asked this question during "The Rundown: A Youth-Oriented Forum on the 2022 elections". Here's how they answered.
Luke Espiritu
For labor lawyer Espiritu, the problem lies in how the country funds education.
"'Yung kawalan ng sapat na budget sa edukasyon, ang kailangan natin diyan ay 20% ng ating national budget, kailangan sa edukasyon at 60% ng GDP (gross dometic product). Nasa konstitusyon natin na ang pinakamataas na budget dapat ay nasa edukasyon. Pero hindi po nangyayari 'yan," he said.
Espiritu, who is running with presidential candidate Leody de Guzman, said apart from the introduction of curriculum changes as needed to ensure quality of education, employers need to change their approach to hiring, in line with what K-12 was really designed to do.
"[The problem goes] both ways -- 'yung mga estudyante, 'yung kalidad ng education na nakukuha nila and at the same time 'yung mga employer, na nag eemploy sa kanila dahil napakacompetitive ng ating labor market," he said.
"Kahit tapos ka na sa K-12, theoritically dapat pwede ka na ma-employ. Eh dahil sa competition, ang mga employer pa rin kinukuha pa rin yung mga pinakamatataas na graduate sa matataas na eskuwelahan eh dapat itong ipagbawal kasi dapat kailangan yung idea ng K-12 na employable ka na ay mangyari," he added.
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Sen. Risa Hontiveros
Reelectionist Hontiveros said apprenticeship programs could be adopted as it would bridge the gap between today's graduates and future employers.
"Hindi lamang na dalawang taon ng online learning halos lamang 'yung mga estudyante natin, pero tinataya na mga dalawang taon pa bago ma-absorb ng mga iba't-ibang employer group o company ang kasalukuyang magtatapos na batch, so talagang kailangang itulay sila dun sa daigdig ng pagtatrabaho," she said, noting how this can cater to different age groups, not just fresh graduates, who are finding it hard to seek employment nowadays just the same.
Hontiveros said promotion of the country's agriculture sector in terms of what jobs are actually available can also be done, noting how the youth should realize that there is a future for them in agriculture. "Hindi lang college certificate ang batayan ng tagumpay," she said.
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Hontiveros also pointed to how the DepEd's Alternative Learning System is still largely seen as merely for those in the "fringes" of society, instead of a legitimate form of alternative learning.
"Palagay ko mas dapat ipasok front and center sa kabuuang education system, bilang alternatibo sa formal education system, bahagi ng non-formal at tsaka informal education system. I-incorporate din yung mga indigenous learning systems, at 'yung cutting edge, 'yung nasa cusp na ng digital technology ng edukasyon at daigdig ng pagtatrabaho," she added.
'Yes or No'
When all participating candidates were asked whether they think the Aquino government's K-12 program effectively improved the country's education system, majority answered "no".
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