To boost job prospects for K to 12 graduates, the House of Representatives has endorsed Resolution 1502, urging the Department of Education to introduce foreign language studies alongside English in the K to 12 Basic Education program.
Authored by Minority Leader Marcelino Libanan, the resolution highlights the importance of foreign language skills in the 21st-century global job market. Libanan emphasizes the demand for multilingual workers, especially by global corporations in the United States, China, and Japan.
This initiative aligns with Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte's goal of producing competent, job-ready citizens. Duterte, during the Basic Education Report, outlined upcoming initiatives, including the phased implementation of the MATATAG K-10 Curriculum.
It's noteworthy that the Philippines already offers language programs in secondary education, but only in few select schools, covering Spanish, French, German, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese. Integrating foreign language studies further enhances the nation's commitment to empowering its workforce for global opportunities.
- Moses