2025 IJRSE – Volume 14 Issue 14
Available Online: 15 August 2025
Author/s:
Tengco, Vladimir Y.
Holy Angel University, Philippines (vtengco@hau.edu.ph; vladtengco@gmail.com)
Abstract:
The Senior High School (SHS) Work Immersion Program in the Philippines was developed to bridge curriculum specialization with workforce readiness. Yet persistent misalignments between students’ academic strands and immersion placements continue to limit its effectiveness. This policy analysis investigates the program’s capacity to enhance employability, focusing on placement relevance, employer engagement, and systemic coherence. Guided by Kingdon’s Multiple Streams Framework and using qualitative documentary research with thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006), the study draws on national directives (DepEd Order No. 30, s. 2017; DepEd–PSAC 2024), regional memoranda, institutional reports from a Catholic university in Angeles City, and international benchmarks from the ILO, OECD, UNESCO, and UNESCO-UNEVOC. Findings highlight recurring placement mismatches—particularly for STEM and TVL strands—limited industry participation due to the absence of incentives, leadership and coordination gaps, and fragmented data tracking systems. These factors collectively weaken the intended policy impact. The study recommends reforms focused on strand-aligned placements, leadership capacity building, structured incentives for employers, and a unified monitoring and evaluation framework aligned with national skills strategies.
Keywords: SHS immersion, employability, policy reform, educational leadership, industry engagement
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2025.25245
Cite this article:
Tengco, V. Y. (2025). Policy gaps in SHS work immersion and employability. International Journal of Research Studies in Education, 14(14), 197-208. https://doi.org/10.5861/ijrse.2025.25245