ZAMBOANGA CITY, May 26, 2023 – When asked if they had any idea what their life will be like after high school, students echo a resounding “we don’t” in the series of career guidance seminars conducted in Zamboanga del Norte.
Responding to the needs of the times, a total of 1,486 graduating students of various senior high schools in Zamboanga del Norte were given a deep dive on which courses to take in college through DOLE’s Career Development Support Program (CDSP).
Meanwhile, college students were oriented on the world of work through the Labor Education for Graduating Students (LEGS).
This after DOLE Zamboanga del Norte Field Office (ZDNFO) conducted a series of Career Guidance seminars to ten (10) schools from May 5-26, 2023.
“We are moving towards graduation season and thus requests for career guidance seminars from partner schools and universities have been frequent.
DOLE, as an advocate of this program, freely welcomes this development as it is our mission to ultimately address the pressing issue of job-skills mismatch,” said Regional Director Albert E. Gutib.
Among the topics discussed in these seminars are labor market information, Top 10 Key Employment Generators, types of occupations in accordance to the individual’s interests, goals and skills.
Senior Labor and Employment Officers Megajane Ligutom and Karen Claire Grafia take turns in educating young minds and ensuring that information on these topics are retained.
“The labor market is ever-changing, thus, it is important that students are informed on the latest and up-to-date information. Through constant coordination with the Bureau of Local Employment, we are able to get our hands on the latest LMI to help students with the decision making process should they choose to pursue college,” says Grafia.
Schools that participated in the seminars were the following: Rizal Memorial Institute of Dapitan City, President Manuel A. Roxas NHS, Dohinob NHS, Bacungan NHS in Leon Postigo, St. Vincent’s College Incorporated, Dipolog Medical Center College Foundation Inc., St. Estanislao Kostka College Incorporated, Jose Rizal Memorial State University – Katipunan and Tampilisan Campuses.
The CDSP aims to immerse parents and students in the realities of the labor market and advocate for career guidance as an effective tool in addressing job-skill mismatch.
It emphasizes these important elements in career development: occupational information or data concerning training and related educational programs, careers, career patterns, employment trends and opportunities; and vocational education – education preparatory to a career in the vocational and technical field. END/KCQG