The Department of Education (DepEd) has announced a major transformation in the Senior High School (SHS) technical-vocational (tech-voc) program, shifting from a static curriculum to a dynamic, data-driven model closely aligned with real-time industry demands.

In a statement issued Thursday, January 29, DepEd said the policy pivot was unveiled during the National Tech-Voc Summit held on January 28 in Quezon City. The event gathered education leaders, private sector partners, and training institutions to strengthen the link between schooling and workforce needs.

Representing DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara, Assistant Secretary Janir Datukan said the shift reflects DepEd’s commitment to making SHS more responsive to economic changes and future job markets.

“Kung gusto nating may tunay na kinabukasan ang mga mag-aaral, kailangang nakabatay ang itinuturo natin sa aktuwal na pangangailangan ng industriya, ngayon at sa hinaharap (If we want students to have a real future, what we teach must be based on the actual needs of the industry, both now and in the future),” Datukan said.

“Hindi sapat na may trabaho lang—mahalaga kung may pag-angat, may kasanayan, at may disenteng kita (It’s not enough to simply have a job—it matters whether there is upward mobility, skills development, and decent income),” he added.

DepEd said a central focus of the summit was the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) Law, which aims to scale national workforce development by embedding industry participation directly into curriculum design, training delivery, and student work immersion.

During a plenary session on EBET implementation, speakers emphasized how stronger enterprise involvement can accelerate curriculum updates, improve training relevance, and expand high-quality immersion opportunities for SHS learners.

Officials stressed that the framework positions technical-vocational education not as a secondary option, but as a direct pathway to productive employment.

DepEd said another highlight was the plenary on data-driven workforce planning, where private sector leaders shared labor market insights that can guide faster curriculum adjustments—particularly in industries affected by automation, digitalization, and global economic shifts.

The session underscored the importance of using real-time industry data to determine which skills should be prioritized in SHS tech-voc tracks, where training investments should be focused, how schools can anticipate emerging job demands, and how to strengthen school-to-work transitions.

DepEd Bureau of Curriculum Development (BCD) Director Peter Marc D. Magsalin highlighted the critical role of sustained industry engagement in ensuring smoother transitions from school to employment.

“We must recognize that industry participation is the only way to strengthen the pipeline of school-to-work transition,” Magsalin said. “By aligning our sectoral expertise with global labor trends, we ensure our curriculum remains responsive to the future of work,” he added.

He also urged partners to openly discuss implementation challenges to help identify innovative solutions.

“More importantly, share your challenges,” Magsalin said. “It is in being honest about our bottlenecks that we find our most innovative solutions,” he added.

Magsalin noted that beyond the data and policies, it is the “camaraderie and collaboration” formed during the summit that will matter most. “We are not just colleagues; we are fellow champions and advocates of TVET,” he said.

DepEd said the summit centered discussions on five key focus areas: scaling workforce development through the EBET Law; aligning education with global labor trends and the future of work; using private sector data to guide curriculum updates and career readiness; strengthening SHS industry immersion programs; and benchmarking best practices across public and private tech-voc institutions.

DepEd said insights from the National Tech-Voc Summit will directly inform ongoing curriculum revisions, enhanced work immersion standards, and deeper collaboration with industry partners.

The reforms form part of the agency’s broader strategy to align basic education—particularly Senior High School technical-vocational tracks—with national workforce priorities and long-term economic development.

As it transitions to a more agile, industry-led model, DepEd expressed optimism that SHS graduates will be better equipped with relevant skills, improved employability, and clearer career pathways in a rapidly changing labor market.