Senatorial candidate and former Vice President Jejomar C. Binay today said he will push for more learning and job opportunities for out-of-school youths.
Binay issued the statement after a study conducted by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) showed that the number of out-of-school youths increased during the pandemic, from 16.9 percent in January 2020 to 25.5 percent in April 2020.
The former vice president earlier proposed the creation of a National Skills Education Council (NSEC) that would match the skills of students with the needs of industries and employers.
Part of the skills-matching program would be partnerships between schools and private firms where students can get hands-on training and where the courses are set to meet the needs of the company.
“In this way, students can also earn while they learn,” Binay said.
“Kailangan nating tulungan ang mga out-of-school youth na magkaroon ng mas maraming pagkakataon na mapa-unlad ang kanilang buhay,” Binay said.
“We should bring them back to school, and also give them the option to learn skills they can use to get jobs. Dapat natin silang bigyan ng pag-asa at ipakita na nariyan ang pamahalaan upang kalingain sila,” he added. (TSJ)
