Senior High School is a stage in students’ education where they would be further trained to acquire work skills. Thus, work immersion is a very important process that they would undergo.
Work immersion is a key feature in the senior high school curriculum, according to DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones. Depending on the purposes and needs of the learners, it can be conducted in variety of ways.
Deped Order No.30, s. 2017 states the guidelines that schools and partner institutions should adhere to during the students’ work immersion. Under the order, the implementing rules will enable senior high students to become familiar with the workplace, experience workplace simulation and apply their competencies in their specialties.
Work activities can range from minimum of 80 hours to a maximum of 320 hours, with a limitation of 40 hours per week, but not more than 8 hours per day as provided for by law.
The safety of learners is one of the main priorities, thus the department shall ensure that all schools and venues for learning are conducive to their education and safety. It is also stressed that work immersion should not be used as a mere recruitment tool for a partner institution. Instead, they should also learn and gain skills that would be useful for other job options.
The schools and students should not be asked to pay the partner institution for any work immersion activity conducted. Fees may be collected, but only upon careful consultation with parents or guardians. Meanwhile, partner institutions are not required to pay the students since there is no employee-employer relationship. Allowances such as travel or meal allowances from partner institutions are allowed, but not required.
It is compulsary to secure a parental/guardian consent before a student can begin his/her work immersion. Furthermore, a memorandum of agreement shall be signed by parties involved for their own security.
To get the complete details of the memorandum, you can download it here.