ILOILO City – Western Visayas has produced over 17,000 college graduates for school year 2017-2018, according to the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
These graduates were from 154 education institutions – 10 state universities and colleges (SUCs) operating 64 campuses, 79 private schools and 11 local universities.
Most of the graduates took up business-related courses, said CHED regional director Dr. Cesar Medina.
Others were graduates of courses in teaching, engineering, nursing and other medical-related courses.
For school year 2017-2018, CHED data showed 196,857 college enrollees in Region 6 – 95,572 in SUCs; 88,049 in private schools; and 13,136 in local universities and colleges.
For the upcoming 2018-2019 school year, CHED urged high school graduates to explore other courses such as the following:
* Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
* Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
* engineering courses (mechanical, civil and electrical)
* math- and science-related courses
The country needed graduates from these fields, explained CHED Region 6 education program specialist Dr. Rex Casiple, citing a study conducted by the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges, National Economic and Development Authority and Department of Labor and Employment.
Very few high school graduates were enrolling in these recommended courses, said Casiple, making the services of professionals in these fields much sought-after./PN
