DepEd to provide P1 M each to 12 technical-vocational high schools

Manila, Philippines -  Twelve technical-vocational high schools that will pilot test the senior high school program under the K (Kindergarten)+12 Basic Education Curriculum reform program will receive financial assistance of P1 million each.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said the grant would help the schools efficiently implement the Senior High School Modeling Program with an experimental Grade 11 level.

“We are assisting these schools so that they may effectively and expediently operate the program through technical and financial support. Just like a research and development process, we expect to draw out the best practices of participating model schools which we can replicate in the years ahead,” he said.

The 12 schools are Bukig National Agricultural & Technical School in Cagayan Valley, Angeles City National Trade School in Pampanga, Balagtas National Agricultural High School in Bulacan, Bataan School of Fisheries in Bataan, San Pedro Relocation Center National High School in Laguna, Rizal Experimental Station & Pilot School for Cottage Industries in Pasig City, Don Alejandro Roces Science & Technology High School in Quezon City, Doña Montserrat Lopez Memorial High School in Silay City, Subangdaku Technical Vocational High School in Mandaue City, Opol National Secondary Technical School in Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan City National School of Fisheries in Iligan City, and Tagum National Trade School in Tagum City.

The schools can use the fund to develop a competency-based curriculum in each identified area of specialization based on industry inputs and/or Technical Education & Skills Development Authority (TESDA) training regulations.

The subsidy can also be used in the preparation of instructional materials and purchase of supplies/materials and other learning resources.

The schools are also allowed to use the financial assistance to hold student assessment.

The recipients are required to submit a monthly progress report, including liquidation of expenses.

To check on the status of the financial assistance, a one-day program evaluation will be held on Aug. 29.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) has created a Technical Vocational Unit to strengthen the technical-vocational (tech-voc) education content of the basic education curriculum, especially in senior high school.

Luistro said tech-voc education is one of the three major strands under K+12 which prepares high school graduates for work.

The other two are academic strands leading to a collegiate degree and the sports and music strand.

The new unit is expected to fine-tune the modeling of Grade 11 specifically in covering such tech-voc areas as agriculture, fishery, and others.

It is also expected to formulate strategies and policies in the conceptualization, implementation and monitoring of the modeling and offering of tech-voc courses in Grades 11 and 12.