DepEd, MARINA tie up to offer maritime program in SHS

The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that will provide Senior High School (SHS) students with the education and training to qualify for further studies and/or career opportunities in the maritime industry upon graduating from SHS.

“The Department sees how critical the maritime industry is. It is not just about the curriculum but our competitive advantage in the world,” said Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC. 

[L-R] DepEd Assistant Secretary for Programs and Projects Elvin Ivan Uy, Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Administrator Maximo Mejia Jr., PhD, Angkla Partylist Representative Jesulito Manalo, Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC, AMOSUP VAdm Eduardo Ma R. Santos, and DepEd Undersecretary for Programs and Projects Dina Ocampo at the MOA signing for the SHS maritime program. 

With the increasing demand for seafarers in the international and local maritime industry, Luistro added that the Department recognizes the need to offer a maritime specialization in SHS under the K to 12 Program. 

“We would like to thank DepEd for their support and cooperation for the maritime SHS program. With this program, we will be able to show that the Philippines is able to provide or offer highly competent, well-trained and highly qualified Filipino seafarers, who are ready for employment upon graduating from high school,” said MARINA Administrator Maximo Majima Jr., PhD.

Through the MOA, DepEd and MARINA will work together on the development and revision of the curriculum guides and instructional materials necessary for the proper implementation of the SHS maritime specialization. Both parties are also responsible for designing and implementing the said specialization in compliance with international standards in maritime education and training.

The Standards of Training and Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) convention code will be used as a basis for developing the curriculum for the maritime specialization. With this, SHS graduates of the said specialization may take the assessment for the certification of ratings. This will allow them to qualify for career opportunities in the maritime industry upon graduation and evaluation. SHS graduates may also pursue further studies in the maritime field. Given this, the country will be able to produce more seafarers at the officer level. 

“We’re very grateful to MARINA for working with us to ensure that it is not just about developing a curriculum that’s acceptable to DepEd but to the world standards of the maritime industry,” Luistro added.