Project News

From October 16 to 29, training in Japan was conducted under the title of "Training Course for Enhancement of Technical Vocational High Schools" to obtain necessary insights how to improve Tech-Voc Education in the Philippines. While participants of the first and second batch were mainly principals and teachers of Tech-Voc senior high schools (SHS), educational administrative officers were invited to the program this year in order that the Project outcomes be infused into the policies. The participants included 4 representatives from DepEd Central Office including the director of Bureau of Curriculum Development, 2 from Regional Offices and 8 from Division Offices.

In the first week of the program, the participants attended lectures on education in Japan and on the Japanese technical education system, and then visited Saitama Prefectural Education Center, Kawagoe Upper Secondary School, and Kawagoe Technical High School. In the second week, they visited Yamanashi Prefecture to attend a lecture on promotion of Tech-Voc education by Prefectural Board of Education and observe Hokuto High School, Norin High School and Nirasaki Technical High School. They also visited Yamanashi Hokuto Production Center and Yamanashi Prefectural Maglev Exhibition Center to understand local industries.

The participants were particularly interested in collaboration with external institutions and "Project Study" organized by each school. The following examples were introduced during the program.

Promotion of Tech-Voc education by collaboration with external institutions

Saitama Prefectural Board of Education conducts following projects to promote Tech-Voc education.

• Global Project for Practical Vocational Education: After acquiring fundamental and basic professional knowledge, technologies and skills though training courses in the prefecture, students developed new products overseas and in the prefecture with assistance from companies and sell the products at e-commerce sites. This project aims to equip people in industry with the capacities required for working independently in Japan and abroad.
• Project for Learning from Professionals: Private citizens who have excellent technical capacities and skills are dispatched to senior high schools to conduct practical lessons.
• Project for Dispatching Career Advisor: Private citizens who have experience in personnel affairs and labor management in business, those with the qualification of industrial counselor and those with an equivalent qualification are dispatched to senior high schools as career advisors.
• Promotion of Employment Experience: To develop sound attitudes to labor and careers, opportunities of internships and social service activities are provided.
• Entrepreneurship Education Promotion Project: Schools invite staff of companies promoting entrepreneurship education as a lecturer and conduct lessons on company research and career research.

"Project Study"

Technical high schools in Japan set "Project Study" as a part of their curriculum. It aims to deepen students knowledge and skills, integrate what they have learnt, and enhance their problems solving skills. The project could be: (1) conducting study / research / experiment, (2) making some works, (3) involving practicum in industry situation, and (4) acquiring vocational certificate.

In Yamanashi Prefectural Nirasaki Technical High School, some students develop eco cars and participate in "Honda Ecological Mileage Challenge" (competing for eco cars' mileage with a litter of fuel) . JICA program participants commented, "Students of automotive course in the Philippines learn car repair only, while students in Japan have experience to develop a car. Technical education in Japan provides students with exciting learning opportunities and hope for their future.

In the Philippines, SHS was newly established and Grade 11 students were enrolled in June 2016. Arrangement of work immersion for Grade 12 in SY 2017-2018 is one of the hot topics now. The purpose of Tech-Voc education, however, is not limited to work immersion. Technical schools in Japan provide sufficient career guidance and almost all students are employed. Through the program, participants learned the importance to enhance employability of themselves by quality education, career guidance and support for employment.

With Prof. Kenichi Sakaguchi (Tokyo Gakugei University)

At Kofu Station