By Prof. Rex Casiple
Classes in the tertiary level for this coming academic year (AY) 2021-2022 will start in August to September 2021. Business Education courses still will be the most popular courses in school followed by Teacher Education and Information Technology Education. Incoming freshman college students are advised to take courses in demand in the next five (5) years. They are advised to take priority programs leading to jobs that will be in-demand or that ensure employment in the next 5 years.
The national priority programs were identified by the Technical Working Group (TWG) members composed of representatives from Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Unified Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Secretariat in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) and the Philippine Management Information System (PMIS), in line with the National Development Plan on Manpower demands based on the JobsFit 2022 Labor Market Information (LMI) Report of DOLE.
The national priority programs were aligned with global innovation platforms of Science, Technology, Engineering, Agri-Fisheries and Mathematics (STEAM). Courses in demand were based on the priority needs of the country during pandemic and the Philippine Development Plan. The TWG have identified the in demand and hard to fill occupations, jobs of the future and/or green jobs in Science and Mathematics; Information Technology Education; Engineering and Technology; Architecture; Business Management; Health Profession Education; Maritime Education; Social Sciences; Teacher Education; and Multi and Interdisciplinary Cluster of Discipline.
Programs under the Science and Mathematics include Applied Physics/Physics, Applied Mathematics/Mathematics, Applied Statistics/ Statistics, Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science; and Marine Biology. Programs under Information Technology Education include Computer Science, Entertainment and Multimedia Computing, Information System, Information Technology, and Library and Information Science.
Programs under Engineering and Technology include Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering/ Electronics and Communications Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Technology, and Industrial Technology.
Programs under Architecture and Related Programs include Architecture, Fine Arts, and Interior Design. Programs under Business Management include Accountancy, Hospitality Management/ Hotel and Restaurant Management, and Tourism Management. Programs under Health Profession Education include Doctor of Dental Medicine, Medical Technology/Medical Laboratory Science, Midwifery, Nursing, Nutrition and Dietetics, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, and Radiologic Technology. Programs under Maritime Education include Marine Engineering and Marine Transportation.
Programs under Social Sciences include Psychology and Social Work. Programs under Teacher Education are Secondary Education majors in Science and Mathematics, Early Childhood Education, and Special Needs Education. Programs under Multi and Interdisciplinary Cluster include Agribusiness. Students intending to apply for CHED scholarship programs should take any of the above national priority programs.
In this time of pandemic, students who cannot afford to enroll in a private school due to high cost of tuition and other school fees are advised to enroll in nearby state colleges and universities (SUCs) or CHED recognized local colleges for free. They have to maintain passing grades in order to be retained until graduation. To avoid consequences for enrolling in fake courses or programs, incoming college students are advised to secure or look for permit or recognition issued to school by the CHED.
Poor but deserving students are advised to apply for scholarship grants to CHED or other government line agencies. They may also seek advices from their school’s guidance counselors or scholarship coordinators on what course to take suited to them.
