K to 12 PLUS Project

The K to 12 PLUS Project, launched in September 2013, is an initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The project is a joint effort of six German implementing partners, including GPCCI, whose complementary strengths and expertise was sought to support the implementation of the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013 (Republic Act 10533) in the Philippines.

Sharing the vision to improve the employability of Filipino youth, the K to 12 PLUS Project partners shared their experiences in Dual Education and Training with their Filipino partners. Together, vital elements for the success of work-based learning were identified and piloted in the Technical-Vocational Livelihood track of Senior High Schools.

The outskirts of Metro Manila are vibrant economic hubs. Local and international manufacturing companies operate in the industry parks and special economic zones north and south of the Metropolis. Many of GPCCI’s local and German member companies are located there.

To pilot elements of Dual Education and Training, GPCCI partnered with representatives of the Metalworking industry and the San Pedro Relocation Center National High School (SPRCNHS) in 2015. The school caters to a suburban community of families, while being strategically located near factories and metalworking companies with a high demand for skilled workers.

Together with the Philippine Die and Mold Association (PDMA), the Metal Industry Association of the Philippines (MIAP), the Department of Education (DepEd), and various GPCCI-member and non-member companies, GPCCI piloted the Dual Education and Training approach in the Metalworking Technology track.

The first pilot-batch entered Senior High School in 2015. The experiences of those students and the following three batches helped to identify replicable success factors. They are based on the German Dual Education and Training model and were localized to be suitable for the new Senior High School framework in the Philippines.

At the core of a successful Dual Education and Training Program is a strong partnership between Schools, Enterprises, Associations and Chambers. The experiences in the K to 12 PLUS Project attests to this, as the partners adapted and piloted elements of German Dual Education and Training in the Philippines.

The following elements – when implemented together – ensure the quality of a Dual Education and Training program.

• Enhanced Curriculum
• In-Company Training Plan
• Immersion Logbook
• Teacher Up-Skilling
• Trained In-Company Trainer
• Assessment and Certification