ARE ALL SENIOR HIGH STUDENTS REQUIRED TO UNDERGO IMMERSION?
LOURDES G. DELA CRUZ
Immersion is a requirement for graduation in the Senior High School (SHS) Program of the Basic Education Curriculum. It is one of the nine specialized subjects in SHS. During the immersion, learners are immersed in actual work environments relevant to the training of learners in school. The guidelines in conducting the immersion program are stipulated in DepEd Order No. 30, series 2017 that gives emphasis on the intention of the program to make the learner familiar with the workplace, to simulate employment, and to enable the students to apply their learning from the applied subjects. School have the flexibility to implement the work immersion with number of 80 hours for learners to have actual hands -on experience of work simulation.
There are different models the immersion program can be delivered. All these consider the number of hours, the need and purpose of the learner, the capability and compliance of the school to the TESDA, DOLE, and DepEd Work Immersion guidelines. Unlike before, it was thought that work immersion can only be done during the second semester of Grade12. Based on DO 30, s2017, work immersion may be taken by the learners during semestral break or summer as long as the specialization being practiced during the wok immersion has been completed. The program requires the School Head to adhere to the guidelines on partnership issued by DepEd through DepEd Order # 40, series2015 on K to 12 Partnership. The School Head is authorized to seek partnership between DepEd and partner institutions. Working with the School Head in the frontline is the senior high school focal person and the immersion teacher.
Not all senior high school students are required to undergo work immersion. For the students with ABM as the area of specialization, they have options aside from work immersion like Research/Career Advocacy/ Culminating Activity i.e. Business Enterprise Simulation. StudentstakingupSTEMhaveoptionstoconductResearch/CareerAdvocacy/Culminating Activity in place of the work immersion. Other students taking up other SHS specializations also have options to choose from if work immersion will not be conducted. However, students specializing in TVL are required to undergo the work immersion since the specializations are more on skills development.
Prior to the release of the DepEd guidelines for work immersion, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) already issued labor advisory as regards work immersion for senior high school students. The advisory states that the work immersion can only be done between 8:00 in the morning and 5:00 in the afternoon. It is emphasized that work immersion for students that are still below 15 years old must have permission from their parents or guardians and should be no longer than four hours per day. DOLE explicitly prohibits the exposure of learners in industries and activities considered as hazardous in accordance with Dole Department Order 149-2016.
— oOo— The author is Education Program Supervisor, DepEd Angeles City