‘PHL youth risk competitive edge loss from digital skills’

AN advocacy group pushing for the resumption of face-to-face classes has asked policymakers to come up with measures that will equip graduates with skills needed in the digital economy.

The Philippine Business for Education (PBED) on Friday urged the government to enforce policies that prepare students to adapt to changes brought about by the shift to digital. Filipino workers could fail to maximize opportunities in the online economy simply because they lack of skills required in completing digital tasks, the group warned.

Justine E. Raagas, director for workforce development of PBED, said the Philippine labor force stands to gain from the growth in online jobs worldwide, as Filipinos are educated to speak and write in English. This allows them to communicate with clients from Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States.

Last week the International Labour Organization (ILO) issued its latest World Employment and Social Outlook that assessed the role of the digital economy in changing the world of work. The ILO report placed the Philippines at second in terms of ability to meet the increasing demand for freelance work.

Based on the report, India in 2019 took one in every five of outsourcing work online that earned it a total of $26 million, while the Philippines and Ukraine generated $16 million and $13 million, respectively, from freelancing in the digital space.

Risk of squandering

HOWEVER, PBED Executive Director Lovelaine B. Basillote warned the Philippines may squander its competitive advantages if the government fails to respond to the schooling crisis troubling its youth. Data from the Department of Education reported more than 2.7 million students all across levels did not enroll for school year 2020 to 2021.

“This has grave implications for the future of the workforce and their ability to become competitive in an increasingly globalized world of work,” Basillote said.

Due to the threat of Covid-19, the government has directed schools to shift to blended learning, in the form of modular and online classes, to secure the safety of students. As a consequence, millions of students were prevented from attending school in this academic calendar on lack of learning devices and Internet connectivity needed to participate in the virtual classes.

Basillote pleaded with the government to double efforts to address the education crisis, as neglecting it may worsen the number of out-of-school youth in the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We are appealing to the government to implement crucial measures so that our students can continue their learning,” Basillote added. “We must raise the quality of our education so that our graduates can lead meaningful and productive lives when they step out of the classroom.”

The PBED is calling for the resumption of face-to-face classes to provide some 2.7 million out-of-school students the choice to enroll, or else they will finish this school year without making any progress in their formal education.

However, Presidential Spokesman Harry L. Roque Jr. last week said faceto-face classes might resume only by August, as instructed by President Duterte himself. The President hopes that by then, the government would have brought in enough doses of Covid-19 vaccine to begin its vaccination program.