CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) has identified an initial list of priority sector in the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF), a key reform to boost employability of Filipino workers here and abroad.
The PQF is a quality-assured national system for the development, recognition and award of qualifications based on standards of knowledge, skills and values acquired in different ways and methods by learners and workers of the country.
Based on its consultations with its private partners, among the priority sector are semi-conductors and electronics, manufacturing, tourism and hospitality, maritime, agriculture, and entrepreneurship.
A technical working group (TWG) along with representation from the PQF National Coordinating Council members and mandated agencies incorporating government development plans, however, will still be created to finalize these priority sectors.
Aside from that there were also several other matters discussed when DepEd convened the 12th Philippine Qualifications Framework National Coordinating Council (PQF-NCC) for a meeting recently.
The coordinating council approved an updated organizational structure creating 22 new plantilla positions.
With DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara serving as the chairperson, the council is also expected to collaborate with the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP) for the establishment of a permanent secretariat, to be led by an Executive Director V (equivalent to the rank of an undersecretary).
At the time being, DAP Vice President Arnel D. Abanto and DAP Fellow Amor Avendaño, for their part, assured interim staff and technical support until the PQF-NCC completes its organizational setup.
These involved the development of relevant documented information on policies, systems, and procedures and the setting up of performance monitoring systems to ensure the effective operations of the secretariat and sustainability.
The council also agreed to follow the screening and selection as elaborated in the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the PQF Act for the selection of representatives from the industry and economic sectors.
The council is also expected to form another TWG to ensure that the PQF framework is easier to understand and use, help individuals move easily and readily between education sectors and the national and international labor markets.
The commitment to strengthen PQF objectives by informing stakeholders and partners about the law, its IRR, and its accomplishments through a website (https://pqf.gov.ph/) and other media platforms was also expressed. — /JG (FREEMAN)