The House Committee on Basic Education and Culture chaired by Pasig City Representative Roman Romulo has approved the Substitute Bill to House Bill 6287 which seeks to create a network of meister schools or schools for specialized skills in the country.
In the explanatory note of his House Bill 6287, author Albay 2nd District Representative Joey Salceda said the bill would create specialized senior high schools that will teach highly technical skills compatible with the manufacturing and other high-value industries.
“This would help bridge the country’s skills gap and reduce youth unemployment.”
“This would help bridge the country’s skills gap and reduce youth unemployment,” according to Salceda.
The veteran legislator said the bill is modeled after technical-vocational schools in Korea that produce meisters or master-craftsmen.
“In Korea, the effects that meister schools had were dramatic.”
“In Korea, the effects that meister schools had been dramatic: 85 percent placement of the first batch or generation of those who signed employment contracts,” the seasoned lawmaker stressed.
“In the first two years of implementation, the employment rate of vocational high school graduates increased from 19 percent in 2010 to 42 percent in 2012,” he added.
The Substitute Bill titled “Meister Schools Act” mandates the establishment in every region and in every highly-urbanized city at least one specialized senior high school to be known as a “Meister School,” which will be funded in the manner of a national high school.
The “meister schools” will implement an enhanced two-year senior high school education program, integrated with a special curriculum on tech-voc courses to provide technical and vocational quality education to students to immediately fill in the need of the industries on highly-technical, highly-skilled functions.
The establishment of a meister school will be based on the following conditions:
(a) growth potential
(b) consistent high enrollment and inventory data
(c) that no other public schools offer any particular specializations in that area
(d) adequate “state-of-the-art” facilities that will cater to specific specialization needs of learners and
(e) strong partnership and linkage with companies and other employers within the region or highly urbanized city