New SHS Curriculum Integrates Vocational Training for Enhanced Workforce Readiness

Senior high school (SHS) students will soon receive technical and vocational skills training as part of the revised SHS curriculum, following the signing of a joint memorandum by the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). This initiative aims to embed TESDA’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) program into SHS tracks to enhance workforce readiness and employability.

The Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1 Series of 2024, signed by DepEd, TESDA, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), mandates the integration of TESDA’s training regulations (TRs) into all SHS strands. These TRs, developed with industry collaboration, align with the National Technical Education and Skills Development Plan 2023-2028 and key employment sectors.

With the integration, each SHS grade level will include at least one TR, allowing learners to earn up to two National Certificates (NCs) by graduation. This ensures students are workforce-ready and employable.

Currently, SHS programs are divided into academic and technical-vocational tracks, with only the latter receiving skills training. Embedding TVET across all tracks addresses the private sector’s concern that the existing 80-hour work immersion for academic track students is insufficient for employment readiness.

Additionally, the new memorandum establishes standardized assessments and certifications for SHS students completing the TVET program. These assessments, provided for free, grant NCs upon successful completion, certifying the students’ skills and competencies. This initiative aims to produce globally competitive, certified professionals ready for the job market.