DTI, DepEd ink agreement to offer e-commerce track to high school students

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Education (DepEd) and Thames International School Inc. have entered into an agreement to offer and implement an e-commerce track for secondary school students (SHS).

Outgoing DTI Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Deputy Education Minister Juan Edgardo Angara, and Thames International co-founder and president Jaime Noel Santos signed a memorandum of understanding (MOA) in Makati City on Thursday aimed at building and strengthening the country’s e-commerce talent pool.

“A dedicated e-commerce track in high school is a strategic step toward creating a future-ready workforce. We need to prepare our workforce for an emerging industry that is digital and AI-driven,” Pascual said.

He added that the course will equip students with the technical skills needed in the growing e-commerce industry that supports the Philippine economy.

He added that the new major will prepare students to be “job creators and innovators” because e-commerce opens up new ways of doing business.

“The President’s emphasis on a future-ready education system is our guiding light. This partnership is a concrete step towards achieving that vision. Together, we will build a robust e-commerce ecosystem that drives economic growth, empowers our youth, and brings Bagong Pilipinas to the global digital stage,” Pascual added.

Meanwhile, Santos said the MOA aims to enroll 1,000 students in the first year of implementing the e-commerce track, and then expand that to 50,000 SHS students in three to four years.

Employability in SHS

Angara, in turn, said the E-Commerce Track program will help ensure employment for high school graduates, in line with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Under the agreement, participants can receive training in areas such as digital marketing, procurement and logistics, data analysis, online security and computer systems.

“Malaki ang tyansa na makakakuha ng tabaho ang ating alumni (There is a big chance that our graduates will find jobs even after graduating from) Senior High School. At iyon ang pangako natin noong ipinasa natin ang (This is what we promised when we implemented) K-12 (from children to Grade 12),” Angara said in an interview about the ambush.

Angara said DepEd may incorporate the said track into the students’ curriculum, which is a good opportunity for the ongoing review and revision of the SHS curriculum.

He also stressed the need to introduce such innovations in the curriculum to develop students’ skills and interests.

“Maraming pumapasok diyan na makabagong industriya gaya ng (new industries are emerging, such as) artificial intelligence, software development, game development, animation, Hindi pangkaraniwan ba, Hindi bahagi ng curriculum (those that are not common, that are not part of our curriculum),” Angara said.

“Nakikita natin na may potensyal para ipasok iyong ilang subjects diyan. Dahil marami diyan, hilig ng mga bata e (We see that it can be included in several subjects. Because many of them are within the students’ sphere of interest.)”

The course is expected to enroll at least 1,000 students, with the first phase planned at 50 schools in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Calabarzon, given the concentration of e-commerce companies in these regions. (PNA)