Maritime training now part of DepEd’s K to 12 program

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Education (DepEd) has forged an agreement with groups of Filipino seafarers for the provision of maritime training at the secondary level under the K to 12 program.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro signed the agreement with representatives of the Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Inc. (PTC), and ANGKLA Party-list for the implementation of “Project Balanghay” over the weekend.

The Project Balanghay is a senior high school track that aims to facilitate maritime education by training SHS students in the technical skills required to pursuing further studies or available career opportunities in the field of seafaring, Luistro said. 

Balanghay is a wooden watercraft used by Filipinos during pre-colonial times.

“My hope is that this will be a model that could be replicated and shared with schools of quality,” Luistro said.

The senior high school program will be fully implemented in 2016.                                                        

Project Balanghay will provide students a thorough overview of the maritime industry, both local and international, by acquainting them with ship management systems and auditing through simulation, case studies, use of equipment, and actual hands-on training.

 DepEd is set to approve designed programs of study and specialized instructors as proposed by PTC.

Luistro said initial implementation will commence once DepEd and PTC have identified schools that can carry out the necessary preparation. Public high schools and private maritime institutes across the nation are set to be evaluated soon. 

“Student candidates will be gathered from the passers of an evaluation based on international maritime standards composed of a battery of exams and interviews,” he said.

Once implemented, instruction will be in compliance with the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Regulation 1/6, Training and Assessment. 

ANGKLA Partylist will serve as the intermediary between PTC and DepEd, ensuring both the learners and the maritime community benefit from the program.

PTC senior vice president Ronald Enrile said there is a huge demand for Filipino seafarers as 90 percent of world trade is done through ships.

“There is a big opportunity in working onboard because the demand is never diminishing. Thus, the project not only aims to educate and present career options within the industry, but also to sustain the prominence of the Philippines as the leading supplier of maritime professionals around the world,” he said.

The Philippines is one of the leading suppliers of seafarers globally, with Filipinos comprising about 25 percent of the world’s seafarers, according to the Commission on Higher on Education.