To further promote career opportunities in seafaring, the Department of Education (DepEd) has entered an agreement with Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Inc. (PTC), and ANGKLA Party-list for the implementation of “Project Balanghay”— a program intended to integrate technical skills needed in the maritime industry to senior high school students.

The program will be fully implemented in 2016, and DepEd secretary Armin Luistro hopes that inclusion of the maritime subject in high school students' education will help them in pursuing further maritime studies and have more career opportunities in the maritime field.

Project Balanghay (balanghay is a wooden watercraft used by Filipinos during pre-colonial times) will provide an in-depth overview of the local and international maritime industry, and introduce students to ship managements systems and auditing through simulation, case studies, use of equipment, and actual hands-on training.

Public and private schools where initial implementation of the program will be chosen under the DepEd and PTC evaluation, and DepEd is set to approve designed programs of study and specialized instructors as proposed by PTC.

When the program is implemented, instruction will be in compliance with the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Regulation 1/6, Training and Assessment.

To date, Filipino seafarers comprise 25% of global seafarers and are the chosen employees in foreign offshore vessels.

Source: www.seamanjobsite.com