UMak's Grade 11 a techvoc-rich curriculum model

MANILA, Philippines - The University of Makati’s effort to “model” or pilot-test the mandatory Grade 11 of the two-year senior high school set to be instituted by the Department of Education (DepEd) in 2016 is turning into a showcase that could be a guide when DepEd finally implements the SHS level four years from now.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro said the technical-vocational rich curriculum of the Grade 11 course program of University of Makati or UMak followed the objectives of the DepEd’s K (Kindergarten) to 12 basic education curriculum (BEC) reform program which calls for the addition of the two-year SHS to the current 10-year BEC that only has six years of elementary and four years of high school.

Luistro said the UMak Grade 11 curriculum also had innovations worth considering especially for DepEd as it draws up the curriculum for the two-year SHS.

“They have a lot of innovative programs that fit to a tee our K to 12 curriculum,” Luistro said.

“They’re maximizing TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority) programs and partnering with industry to ensure jobs after two years,” Luistro added.

Luistro signed a memorandum of agreement last week with the city government of Makati and TESDA formalizing the modeling of the SHS program by UMak ahead of the 2016 nationwide implementation of the program.

Signatories for UMak was Makati Mayor and UMak chairman of the Board of Regents Jejomar Erwin Binay, and TESDA Director General Joel Villanueva.

DepEd began rolling out its ambitious K to 12 BEC program this school year with the introduction of a new curriculum for Grade 1 and Grade 7 or 1st Year Junior High School.

“We support K to 12 because it is aligned with the needs of industry partners of Makati and we have long been implementing at the UMak an integrated lifelong learning program among our students,” said Binay.

According to Luistro, the SHS program will help shift the attitude of parents and students into believing that the completion of secondary education is more than just preparation for college, and that it can be sufficient for employment and career readiness.

“Senior high school program will offer our students various specializations leading to different career paths, without denying them a chance to pursue college education if they so desire. Embedded in the senior high school program are TESDA-recognized skills that can lead to productive employment after graduation from high school,” he said.

When classes opened in June this year, UMak took in its college-bound freshmen students as Grade 11 students.

Professor Tomas Lopez Jr., UMak president, said that they were pleasantly surprised over the high enrollment they got of more than 2,400, especially with previous concerns raised that the mandatory Grade 11 will make students go to other colleges or universities offering the traditional college courses.

The UMak SHS program offers specializations in Science and Technology, Business Education, Information Technology, Business Process Outsourcing, Performing and Broadcasting Arts, Athletics, and Allied Health Services.

“We hope to erase the stigma that blue collar jobs are inferior to a university degree. At the same time, we want parents and students to realize that there are viable and lucrative career options beyond those enabled by a four-year college degree,” explained Villanueva of TESDA.

Graduates of the University’s SHS program have the option to take TESDA assessment for national skills certification and get employed or explore entrepreneurial opportunities. They can also pursue a college degree in UMak.

“The bonus is that they can finish a college degree if they so wish in just another 2 or 3 years instead of the current four of five years,” Luistro said.