Marcos wants review of education curriculum to address jobs mismatch

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has agreed to proposals to review the country's education curriculum to address job mismatch, the Office of the Press Secretary said.

The push for the review was made as concerns about workers’ skills, competencies, and the way the Philippine education system produces graduates were raised during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

Marcos, who presided over the meeting through teleconferencing, stressed that basic education skills and knowledge should be improved to prepare students in their pursuit of a higher level of learning.

“That’s exactly what is happening. That is why we have to look at the curriculum as well. Not only of TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority), but also even our diploma courses,” Marcos said.

To address the present job mismatch, Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo Pascual said the agency would work closely with the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and TESDA.

Pascual said the DTI is already strengthening efforts to assist various universities in developing micro-credentialing systems so that they can catch up with fast-changing technological advancements.

“We’re developing or helping universities develop this system of micro-credentialing because technology is changing very fast. There is a need for workers to update themselves, to reskill or upskill,” he said.

Pascual also mentioned the National University of Singapore, saying that the institution "offers focused but short courses on certain technology and awards students with micro-credential, which is similar to a diploma but for a short course."

GMA News Online has reached out to the camp of Vice President and DepEd chief Sara Duterte for comment on the matter.

Earlier, Marcos already made an instruction for the education agency to review the implementation of the K to 12 program.—LDF, GMA News