Philippines: Linking Senior High Schools and Industry

Over 1.4 million high school students in grades 11 and 12 underwent the 2017-2018 Work Immersion program. This program offers a simulated workplace experience so students can develop industry-based competencies to improve their employment prospects.

The Asia Foundation’s Coalitions for Change (CfC) program worked with the Department of Education, other national and local government agencies, and private sector industries to improve senior high school (SHS) readiness by enhancing the SHS curriculum and the Work Immersion program. CfC focused on two industries that have the potential to create employment and higher-value jobs; Tourism, and the Semiconductor industry. The Tourism program, initially implemented in Panglao, Bohol, has now spread to the rest of the Province and the Region (Central Visayas, Region VII). Similarly the Semiconductor Industry program, initially implemented in Calamba City, Laguna, is now being applied to the rest of the Region (Southern Tagalog, Region IV-A).

Through Coalitions for Change, the education sector, the local government, and industries are now collaboratively working to shape the SHS program, making the learning experience more relevant for future SHS students.