The events include the Palarong Pambansa, the 2024 National Festival of Talents, the National Schools Press Conference (NSPC), the National Learner’s Convergence, the Learning Camp, and the Solidarity Meeting of the Learners’ Rights and Protection Office, all hosted by Cebu. During the opening ceremony of the 2024 National Festival of Talents in Naga City, Duterte emphasized, “This is our support to the local economy of Cebu and to your micro-small and medium enterprises, post-Covid-19 pandemic.”

Duterte explained that the idea of hosting these events in one location came up last year to avoid scattered engagements for teachers, trainers, and coaches, while simultaneously supporting a specific region or province. “That’s why we are happy that we’re here in Cebu for the various activities of the Department of Education,” she added. She also expressed gratitude to the local government of Cebu for its collaboration with the education sector.

Addressing future journalists at the NSPC, Duterte urged campus journalists to uphold the truth in their future media careers. She advised them, “When you write your opinion, never assume anything. Don’t mix your assumption with opinion, those are two different things.” She cautioned the NSPC delegates against defamation, urging them to avoid printing or circulating false information that could harm individuals or organizations.

Duterte expressed optimism about the potential for these campus journalists to achieve recognition not only nationally but also internationally. The 2024 NSPC opening ceremony saw the participation of 3,145 campus journalists from various regions across the country.

The Philippines shares its low ranking with Albania, Uzbekistan, and Morocco, all of which scored similarly. The OECD average for creative thinking is 33, significantly higher than the Philippines’ mean score. Leading countries include Singapore (41), Korea (38), Canada (38), Australia (37), and New Zealand (36).

A stark contrast exists between the highest and lowest performers. Only 3.4% of Filipino students achieved Level 5 proficiency, compared to 30% of Singaporean students. Additionally, no Singaporean students scored at the lowest proficiency level, while a third of Filipino students did.

Despite these results, the Philippines exhibited the highest score improvement linked to student curiosity. Students who expressed a strong desire to learn new things scored higher in creative thinking. About 81% of Filipino students agreed they liked learning new things, showcasing a potential area for fostering improvement.

Philippine students also remain among the weakest in math, reading, and science, with no significant improvement since 2018. The Department of Education is expected to address these issues to enhance fundamental competencies and boost students’ confidence, which could, in turn, improve creative thinking skills.

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.