Final Project Report​

K to 12 PLUS: PROJECT SUMMARY REPORT

Table of Contents Background of K to 12 PLUS Project ................................ 3 GPCCI’s Core-Strengths and Project Roles ......................... 3 Industry-Academe Partnerships ..................................... 5 Academic Achievements .............................................. 6 Workshops and Training .............................................. 6 Teaching Support ...................................................... 7 Knowledge Transfer & Sustainability ............................... 8 Content Development and Online Transformation ............... 9 DET Toolbox Bootcamp ............................................... 9 Advocacy ............................................................... 10 Chamber Development .............................................. 10 Policy Recommendations ........................................... 11 Information Campaign .............................................. 11 Standards & Frameworks ........................................... 12 Outlook ................................................................. 12

Background of K to 12 PLUS Project

Launched in September 2013, the K to 12 PLUS Project was an initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) to support the implementation of the “Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013” in the Philippines. The German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GPCCI) was one of six German Development Cooperation partners supporting its implementation.

Other German cooperation partners in this multi-stakeholder project included AFOS Foundation for Entrepreneurial Development Cooperation, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationals Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Philippines, Savings Banks Foundation for International Cooperation (SBFIC), sequa gGmbH and the German Confederation of Skilled Crafts (ZDH). Philippine cooperation partners included the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Mindanao Microfinance Council.

GPCCI’s Core-Strengths and Project Roles German Chambers Abroad (AHK), such as GPCCI, promote trade between Germany and foreign countries. As representatives of the German economy abroad, AHKs provide various services to companies. A cornerstone of these services is the support for Dual 3

Education and Training (DET) based on the German model. It aims at developing skilled workers that safeguard companies’ productivity and competitiveness anywhere in the world.

With its knowledge and experience to implement DET programs in the Philippines, as well as access to a worldwide network of 140 sister chambers in 92 countries, GPCCI was well-equipped to be one of the key partners in the Philippines to implement the K to 12 PLUS Project.

Together with partners from the local government, schools, industry associations and chambers of commerce, companies and students, GPCCI was able to pilot and anchor innovative approaches in DET in the Philippines.

Specifically, GPCCI’s contributed to the following three pillars within the K to 12 PLUS Project:

1. Industry-Academe Partnerships: o Pilot test elements of German Dual Education and Training during Industry Immersion in newly established Technical-Vocational Livelihood track of Senior High Schools o Gather and analyze experiences from partner schools and companies to make informed decision on policy recommendations 2. Knowledge Transfer: o DET Toolbox Website o Standardized training content o Assessment and certification guidelines (e.g. confidentiality of assessment process) o Quality assurance (e.g. trained in-company trainers and assessors) 3. Advocacy: o Policy recommendations based on project experiences identified through cluster assessment/evaluation workshop o Draft Administrative Order for the Department of Education to revise its policy on Industry Immersion in Senior High School

4

o Contribution to Private Sector Position Paper on Senate Bill 1279 (reforming TVET in the Philippines)

I. Industry-Academe Partnerships

In 2015, GPCCI partnered with the San Pedro Relocation Center National High School (SPRCNHS), the Metal Industries Association of the Philippines (MIAP), and the Philippine Die and Mold Association (PDMA) to pilot the Dual Education and Training approach in the newly established Technical-Vocational Livelihood (TVL) track of Senior High Schools.

Through consultations with industry representatives in the area, in-demand skills in Metalworking Technology were identified. During ensuing meetings with school and company representatives, the school curriculum was jointly enhanced to include additional skills and competences identified by company representatives to bridge the often lamented ‘skills-mismatch’ and develop work-ready graduates.

Special emphasis was put on increasing the industry immersion hours from a maximum of 320 hours to 600-800 hours per learner to allow for sufficient time for hands-on practical training. Quality assuring elements – modelled after the German dual training system – such as an in-company training plan, immersion logbooks, teacher up-skilling, trained in-company trainers and an independent final assessment of additional skills 5

were introduced to ensure the safety and learning progress of the students in the workplace.

Academic Achievements From school year (S.Y.) 2015 to 2019, GPCCI supported three batches of students at the San Pedro Relocation Center National High School. During this time, elements of German DET- from in-company training to TESDA and chamber assessment – were piloted.

Workshops and Training Throughout the partnership with the Senior High School, GPCCI continuously engaged company and school representatives and the Department of Education (DepEd) to create awareness for the Dual Education and Training (DET) approach beyond the Metalworking Technology pilot cluster.

6

  

  

24 cluster participants trained and certified as in-company trainers; 14 company representatives trained as assessors; 10 partner companies engaged to provide learning experiences for students following an in-company training plan, use of logbooks, and participation in the final assessment as assessors; 60 students and parents oriented in the DET approach to create awareness of the DET benefits; 35 tech-vocational teachers of SPRCNHS representing all 14 TVL tracks offered at the school trained to replicate the DET approach in their respective tracks; Meetings with DepEd (R4-A and central office) to present SPRCNHS’ model, which was later incorporated into the DepEd draft Administrative Order on DET as a unique delivery mode within TVL tracks

Teaching Support Enabling and empowering teachers to hone their own skills before passing them on, and to properly participate in needs-based vocational training is key to a successful DET Program implementation. In addition, to be able to teach future-oriented skills, hardware requirements have to match the task. All of these points were supported by GPCCI.  Teacher upskilling through industry immersion as part of their continued education.  Eleven computer units were turned over to the Metalworking Technology department of SPRCNHS specifically to enhance modern-day machining, computer-aided design and manufacturing programming skills.  30 Teachers trained to localize the Dual Education and Training approach in their respective technical-vocational tracks.

7

II. Knowledge Transfer & Sustainability

One of the main efforts of the extension phase (2019-2020) was to extract valuable cluster experiences to: a) inform lasting policy change and, b) sustainably anchor the DET approach in the Philippines by training local DET stakeholders.

GPCCI spearheaded the development of the DET Toolbox Website to create an online repository of knowledge products and processes to promote and expand vocational training partnerships in the Philippines.

In a participatory process with K to 12 PLUS Project implementers (cooperation partners) and representatives from local chambers and associations, the website content was developed based on cluster experiences and consultations.

Engaging professional website developers, the DET process was translated into a logical flow with emphasis on a self-guided user experience, free access to all documents and information. Feedback channels for comments, questions and support lead the users to the two prominent local chambers in the Philippines – the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Human Resource Development Foundation (PCCI-HRDF) and Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI). This ensures that the DET process is anchored locally and that local chambers will still be guided in their future endeavors to replicate and expand DET programs in their respective areas.

Workshops were conducted with representatives of local chamber and associations (future multipliers of the DET approach) to develop the DET Toolbox content in a participatory manner. Trainings were conducted to guide local users through the more 8

than 30 freely available documents including marketing materials, templates and process flows – all to support the local replication of the DET approach.

Content Development and Online Transformation 1) Implementer's Workshop#1: Finalizing DET Toolbox Content and Flow  15 representatives from GPCCI, PCCI-HRDF, CCCI and the consultant 2) User’s Workshop#1: Verification of DET Toolbox Outline and Clarification of Terminology  21 representatives of potential users of the DET Toolbox 3) Implementer's Workshop#2: Content Finalization and Branding Decisions 4) Implementer’s Workshop#3: Creative Direction and Website design 5) User’s Workshop#2: Website walk-through and final validation 6) 24 participants

DET Toolbox Bootcamp Due to the Corona-Pandemic, the physical DET Toolbox Training was converted into a webinar series and rolled out in three parts.

1) Session 1, September 2, 2020: participated by representatives of 6 local chambers 2) Session 2, September 9, 2020: participated by representatives of 7 local chambers 3) Session 3, September 16, 2020: participated by representatives of 7 local chambers

9

III. Advocacy

GPCCI is continuously supporting the promotion of Dual Education and Training (DET) and its quality-assuring elements through chamber development, the introduction of standards, policy recommendations, and continued information campaigns.

Chamber Development Local chambers and industry associations play a crucial role in identifying and implementing industry-led DET programs in their areas. GPCCI conducted various activities to create the awareness and capacity among local chambers to deliver key services to identify, implement and quality assure DET Programs while stressing the opportunity for income-generation through such activities.

 DET Roadshow 7 Philippine regions were visited to promote the DET Approach to 60+ Local Chambers in their respective localities.

 Philippine Business Conferences The DET Approach was presented to close to 1,000 representatives from Local Chambers and private sector and business association.

10

 Dual Training Workshop and Training on Revenue - Generating HRD Services 40 participants representing 20 chambers and associations were trained to identify income-generating Human Resource Development services in their localities.

Policy Recommendations For DET activities to flourish they need the right policies in place. GPCCI supported policy recommendations to create a conducive environment for companies to engage in DET. 

Cluster Evaluation GPCCI spearheaded the Cluster Evaluation to formulate policy recommendations based on common success factors identified across four different DET Programs.



DepEd Administrative Order Based on project experiences, a draft Administrative Order (AO) was supported to define DET as a Unique Delivery Mode for work immersion in Senior High Schools. The AO is for review with the Department of Education (DepEd).



Senate Bill 1279 GPCCI contributed to a Private-Sector Position Paper on the proposed Senate Bill 1279 to strengthen TVET in the Philippines.

Information Campaign To correct potential misconceptions about Dual Education and Training in the Philippines and gather support from the different stakeholders and the public at large, GPCCI conducted various information initiatives. 

Vocational Training Award A highly publicized DET best-practice event to raise awareness for DET among companies and the public at large.



DET Podcast & Forum Best practice, knowledge and information sharing in a timely format to keep stakeholders up-to-date with latest developments.

11



Knowledge Products Various knowledge products were developed and made available to support sustainability and replication of the DET approach: - DET Toolbox Manual - Industry Immersion Guidebook - Guidebook on Income-Generating HRD services - Brochure 1: DET – Localizing elements of the German concept in the Philippines - Brochure 2: DET - A Company Strategy for Talent Development - Testimonials of DET Graduates – posters, stories, Social Media posts

Standards & Frameworks Standards ensure the quality and comparability of DET activities. GPCCI supported the localization of DET frameworks based on the German Model and tailored to the Philippine environment. 

Vocational Training Committee A platform for member companies and relevant institutions to share and discuss vocational training topics that address training needs and explore opportunities to collaborate.



Train the Trainer Training A training course that delivers required skills and abilities of an In-Company Trainer who ensures quality training in the company as part of the DET approach.



Assessment and Certification A defined set of assessment guidelines and certification requirements to ensure the quality of a DET program.

IV. Outlook GPCCI, together with its local partners, will continue to advocate for vocational training models that incorporate elements of the German DET system in the Philippines. A skilled workforce complements GPCCI’s effort to promote bilateral trade and investment as well as supporting local job creation and nation building in the Philippines.

12