With a fast growing population and increasing number of graduates in many educational institutions, we all witness a very stiff competition in the labour market nowadays. The scarcity of work perhaps explains why a registered nurse is employed as a call centeragent instead of attending a sick patient in a hospital. It is likewise no wonder why many of our countrymen would leave their families in loneliness to seek for an employment abroad for their survival because they cannot find a work in our country.
With all the thousands of graduates every year and limited employment opportunities, try to imagine where do all these graduates end up? Perhaps we can only say that there is simply no place for everyone. Not all those who knock are given the chance to be heard. For those who are lucky enough to be employed, they must be those whomwe call cream of the crop, have political connections or own businesses to run. For those who are unlucky, they will find themselves in a long list of millions who are unemployed. This is just one of the many problems that beset our country – the issue on unemployment.
Given this unfavourable scenario, the government is endlessly exploring ways to look for solutions. And one of the measures that was initiated by the Department of Education to ease up unemployment at least for the time being is the K to 12 Basic Education Program which adds additional two (2) years of Senior High School aimed to develop skills development to students in preparation for a better chance of landing a job in the future among other things. Despite strong resistance among many like college teachers who have been affected and parents who can hardly send their children to school due to poverty, the program was nevertheless signed into law in 2013 by former President Benigno Aquino. The question is: Is the K to 12 Program a guarantee for a student who finished the program to easily land a job in the future? This positive answer tothis question still remains to be seen. It is said that even if you have an abundance of skills technical or otherwise but the available jobs are limited, what then will happen?
Compounding the problem of unemployment is the high standard requirement among employers that the applicant should be a graduate of an exclusive school, with pleasing personality, and obtained a master’s degree whicha poor applicant from a province does not simply have. The practice of contractualization is another thing that adds to unemployment. You are given a project hire contract by shrewd employer to work for two months and before your contract ends at the very last hour, expect an exit clearance to be signed by you.
Given all these difficult scenarios, use them as challenges instead of dissuasion to achieve your dreams. Improve and develop things that are within your grasp and let the government do its part. Reward is awarded to those who aspire for a honourable living. For the parents prepare your children for a stiff competition that lies ahead.
By: Dionne M. Lascano
