The Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) expresses its support for the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Basic Education Report (BER) 2023.
Presented by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Monday, January 30, the report outlined the current state of basic education in the country and launched DepEd’s MATATAG: Bansang Makabata, Batang Makabansa agenda to address the challenges and roadblocks that young learners face.
The MATATAG agenda stands for a four-side holistic approach to basic education improvement: (1) MAke the curriculum relevant to produce job-ready, active, and responsible citizens; (2) TAke steps to accelerate the delivery of basic education services and provision of facilities; (3) TAke good care of learners by promoting learner well-being, inclusive education, and a positive learning environment; and (4) Give support for teachers to teach better.
“We will make the curriculum relevant to produce competent, job-ready, active, and responsible citizens,” Vice President Duterte said.
“We will strengthen our numeracy and literacy programs. We will revitalize our reading, science, technology, and math programs by utilizing the gains of previous programs. The programs will be benchmarked by local and international best practices, consulted with experts, and will be research- and evidence-based. We will improve English proficiency while recognizing linguistic diversity. We will work towards the goal of English language proficiency within the context of a multilingual nation.”
“We will engage with CHED, TESDA, and various industry partners to address the issue of skills mismatch in our senior high school (SHS) program. We will need your help to make our graduates employable, we appeal to the industries and to employers to accept our students in work immersions and hire them when they graduate,” she added.
Last December 9, 2022, the PSAC Jobs Sector met with President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., Vice President Sara Duterte, and other relevant government officials to discuss concrete plans to create more and better jobs for Filipinos. One of the PSAC proposals presented was to build skills and capabilities that would allow longer-term competitiveness, which was reflected in the first factor of DepEd’s MATATAG agenda.
“Under the leadership of Vice President and Secretary of Education Sara Duterte, PSAC fully supports their efforts and comprehensive plans for improving the Philippine basic education system. We believe that it will bring about positive change for students, educators, and the country as a whole,” PSAC Jobs Lead, Go Negosyo Founder, and RFM Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joey Concepcion said.
“PSAC is committed to working with the government and other partners to help achieve the goals DepEd has set out and to contribute to the development of a well-educated and skilled workforce,” he added.
PSAC Jobs Sector recommended identifying specific skills for long-term competitiveness and revamping basic and higher education and workforce development to drive productivity and encourage entrepreneurship. The specific skills identified during the December 9 meeting were English proficiency, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) related skills, and digital readiness. In addition, PSAC recommended further integration between DepEd, the Commission of Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and to work with the private sector to set standards, update curricula, and design training programs that match with the real skill needs of priority sectors.
These recommendations were reflected in the speech of Vice President Duterte and the DepEd’s MATATAG agenda.
PSAC is convened by Aboitiz Group President and CEO Sabin Aboitiz. The PSAC Jobs Sector is led by RFM Corporation President and CEO Joey Concepcion, who is joined by members Magsaysay Group President and CEO Doris Magsaysay-Ho, AC Education President and CEO Fred Ayala, Alliance Global CEO Kevin Tan, SM Investments Corporation Vice Chairperson Teresita Sy-Coson, and Ayala Corporation Independent Director Rizalina Mantaring.
