“EDUCATION MISMATCH”

Economics ascertains how the demand and the supply should be kept in a balance. But with the country’s predicament in terms of job opportunities, it has been a problem of the country to actually provide quality jobs for thousands of graduates annually. Simply it shows how abundant we are in fresh workers (not necessarily competent), but very much scarce in opportunities for them.
An estimated 4 million Filipinos are jobless, still searching and assuming of unavailable opportunities, not to mention the uncontrollable increase of underemployment rate. With such scenario, young professionals most especially fresh graduates carry a bleak career path and should we say are disillusioned after graduation. A lot has been debated why such problem seems to be irresolvable, and frequently the government is the one to be blamed. But as we reflect on the status quo, our educational system specifically seems to the starting point of the said problem.

'Mismatch'

A large proportion of "mismatch" between training and actual jobs is undeniable in the Philippines. This is the major issue at the tertiary level which also causes the existence of a colossal bunch of educated but unemployed or underemployed.
According to the Congressional Committee on Education in 1990, most popular courses in Philippine universities and colleges do not guarantee employment opportunities after graduation. Popular courses tote up to the unemployed population of the country, among other reasons, mainly because the Filipinos take courses unwanted by the country, thus making an overflow of unemployed to our pool of professionals. In a commentary entitled "Shared responsibility: Making Better Media" by Luis Teodoro, he discussed how media related courses (e.g. Communication Arts which is one of the most popular courses according to EdCom) saturate the job market. Hundreds graduate annually yet the probability of landing on the right and rewarding job is very minimal. Same is true to other disciplines like engineering, psychology, etc., plus certificate courses like ‘care giving’.
Educational institutions offer the popular course thus, profitable without even considering the future effects of such to our economy and the society. Furthermore, a lot of educational institutions lack facilities and highly qualified mentors to shape successful graduates.
More over, the problem continuously multiply and creates a notable effect in the job market. A significant number of job seekers take opportunities far from what they are supposed to. For instance, graduates of science courses work as call center agents. It is depressing that they have spent four years studying only to find out they will underutilize their skills because of scarce jobs.

What's Wrong?

The problem roots from the proliferation of substandard educational institutions that offer popular courses. It is disadvantageous to acquire low quality education. It is a common knowledge that all educational institutions should aspire for excellence (in all aspects of the learning process), but unfortunately such idea is elusive in the country. What should be done? It should be made known that never will popularity become a gauge on what to provide our future professionals. The CHED should regulate the institutions that will provide popular courses to ensure that only the best are produced and the considerable number are added to the job market. Furthermore, universities and colleges should be mandated to apply quota systems or carry out a selective admission policy, i.e., installing mechanisms to reduce enrollment in oversubscribed courses and promoting enrollment in undersubscribed ones to ensure quality at the same time motivate examinees to prepare and do well academically. True enough that college education would more likely dictate career opportunities in the future, thus, quality should be assured.
On the next plank, profit should not be the main aspiration of any educational unit. A conscientious system would definitely help solve the crisis. Suffice it to say that at present, the society is disoriented on what to produce for the country. The government should be on a continuous process of looking into the demands in the job market. Advisories should be given to educational institutions on what to produce in order to minimize if not eradicate the influx of unwanted professionals.
Furthermore, leaders in business and industry should be actively involved in higher education and collectively address the mismatch problem. A rationalized apprenticeship program with heavy inputs from the private sector would certainly enhance future professionals. Moreover, there should be a transfer of control from technical training to industry groups, which are more, synchronized to the exigencies of business and industry.
It may hurt that the country is not in need of popular courses graduates but the society is in dire need of fresh viewpoints. The job market can hold so much but can only sustain not much.
"We should understand that all disciplines should be as limited as it is demanded by the society."