Senior High School technical-vocational programs will move from a static to a data-driven curriculum to better match industry needs, the Department of Education (DepEd) announced on Thursday.
The DepEd made the statement following the National Tech-Voc Summit on Wednesday.
In a statement, Education Assistant Secretary Janir Datukan said the shift will entail the use of a responsive model at par with economic changes.
“Kung gusto nating may tunay na kinabukasan ang mga mag-aaral, kailangang nakabatay ang itinuturo natin sa aktuwal na pangangailangan ng industriya, ngayon at sa hinaharap (If we really want a good future for our learners, our teaching should be based on the actual industry needs now and moving forward),” he said.
For the SHS-tech-voc curriculum to be data-driven, DepEd Bureau of Curriculum Development (BCD) Director Peter Marc Magsalin underscored the need for a close collaboration with industry stakeholders.
“We must recognize that industry participation is the only way to strengthen the pipeline of school-to-work transition,” he said.
He said continuous coordination will also help ensure a smooth school-to-work transition.
“By aligning our sectoral expertise with global labor trends, we ensure our curriculum remains responsive to the future of work,” he said.
Magsalin, however, stressed the importance of disclosing ongoing industry challenges and implementation constraints.
“It is in being honest about the bottlenecks that we find our most innovative solutions,” he said.
During the National Tech-Voc Summit, education leaders and industry partners discussed key areas, including the scaling of workforce development through the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) Law; alignment of curriculum with global labor trends; utilization of data from the private sector for curriculum guides; boosting SHS industry immersions; and benchmarking of best practices.
The plenary sessions revealed how industry participation can help accelerate updating the curriculum, enhance training, and expand quality of work immersions – granting tech-voc graduates with opportunities for “productive employment” instead of a “fallback option.”
According to private sector leaders, there are identified market signals that can trigger the need for faster adjustments on curriculum, especially in sectors affected by automation, digitalization, and global demand shifts.
Once timely data are available, the DepEd will be able to align the curriculum and proper investments in necessary training will be concentrated. (PNA)