By Stephanie Sevillano and Jason De Asis | Philippine News Agency
The government’s education agencies are now accelerating efforts to advance reforms within the sector through One Education, the Department of Education (DepEd) said.
One Education, a unified brand and platform, was launched Friday under the trifocal education system involving the DepEd, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
The initiative seeks to link reforms across basic education, higher education, and technical-vocational education, as well as workforce development.
In a statement, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said this linkage will provide easier pathways to opportunity for the Filipino youth.
“Ang One Education ay paalala na hindi magkakahiwalay ang pangarap ng ating mga learner. Kailangang mas malinaw ang tulay mula basic education papunta sa kolehiyo, technical-vocational training, trabaho, negosyo, at lifelong learning,” he said.
Under One Education, a more seamless and more accessible education linkage is institutionalized between the three agencies.
The three agencies also introduced the flagship Education Reform Fellowship (ERF), which seeks to recruit, train, and mentor young professionals and reform-oriented talents.
The ERF will allow fellows to gain exposure to policy work, program implementation, data analysis, stakeholder engagement, strategic communication and inter-agency coordination across the education system.
Fellows are expected to help advance priority education and workforce development reforms.
For her part, CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis said the unified education system supports “simpler and smoother” transition to tertiary education.
“Through One Education, we are ensuring that a learner’s prior academic and technical achievements, whether from senior high school or tech-voc programs, are recognized and credited by our HEIs (higher education institutions),” she said.
“This ensures that no effort is wasted as we build a more direct, seamless path for our learners to transition successfully into the modern workforce,” Agrupis added.
TESDA Secretary Kiko Benitez, likewise, underscored the importance of One Education as it can capacitate learners with necessary skills at par with the emerging global trends.
“One Education encompasses our goal of improving access to acquire new skills, earn certifications, or pursue further studies. Dahil mapa-Tech-voc, Senior High, o College, lahat iyan mayroong ruta para sumakses,” he said.
Benitez said the changing demands in workplaces are now obvious across various industries.
“In the past two years, we have been building seamless education pathways for Filipino learners,” he said, citing TESDA’s available opportunities for learners regardless of their background.
Besides One Education, the DepEd, CHED and TESDA signed the Memorandum of Agreement with Analytiks Inc. for the implementation of Project TAHANAN.
Project TAHANAN will enhance the traceability and interoperability of learners through a more seamless tracking across the basic education, higher education, technical-vocational education, and workforce development pathways.
The data-sharing of learners’ information will help craft improved policies, programs, and support mechanisms.
The One Education initiative was unveiled during the 3rd Joint Education Trifocal Management Committee Meeting, carrying the tagline “Maraming Landas, Isang Sistema. Para sa Bawat Pilipino.”
It supports President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to make learning pathways connected, relevant, and responsive to the needs of learners, communities, and the labor market.
