CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — To address the growing number of senior high school graduates unable to pursue higher education due to limited opportunities, the Provincial Government of Pampanga is set to establish the Pampanga Community College.
Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda announced that the project will be realized in partnership with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), following a meeting with officials from the Department of Education (DepEd) at the Provincial Capitol on Monday, September 15.
According to DepEd Region 3 Director Ronnie Mallari, the community college will initially offer technical-vocational programs designed to meet both local and global labor demands.
These include Airconditioning and Refrigeration, Housekeeping, Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Caregiving, Automotive, Barista Training, and other labor and skilled work programs.
The program aims to encourage displaced senior high school graduates and ALS (Alternative Learning System) passers to pursue practical courses that will enable them to become employable within two years.
In the long term, the college also plans to open a ladderized four-year program, allowing students to continue to higher education while gaining work experience and earning income.
The facility of the Pampanga Community College will be housed at the former San Roque Rehabilitation Center in Mexico, Pampanga, which will serve as its temporary campus. A permanent campus is also being planned for construction in Lubao, Pampanga.
“With this initiative, we are not only opening doors to education but also providing our youth with practical skills and opportunities that will prepare them for a better future,” Governor Pineda said.
