The Department of Education (DepEd) on Wednesday said 95 percent of the total target slots for Senior High School (SHS) work immersion have already been filled, in collaboration with private partners.

The nationwide rollout is now underway under the agency’s 2026 National Work Immersion Fair.

In a news release, DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said this will help ensure that SHS work immersion will be aligned with the standards of industries.

“We are following the directive of President Bongbong Marcos to ensure our graduates enter the workforce with real competence and practical experience,” he said.

“By working closely with our private sector partners to foster innovation and global competitiveness, we are ensuring that every immersion experience is safe, aligned with industry standards, and directly leads to higher employability for our youth.”

The agency particularly secured 47,439 work immersion slots for SHS learners, covering 1,565 distinct job roles. These include positions in key sectors, such as accommodation and food services, education, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and administrative support services, aimed at dramatically boosting graduate employability.

The DepEd, meanwhile, operationalized the National Work Immersion Pledging Dashboard to monitor industry participation and real-time commitments.

Under DepEd’s Strengthened Senior High School curriculum, streamlined into Academic and Technical-Professional (TechPro) tracks, structured Work Immersion models have been introduced.

TechPro track learners complete 320 hours in one term, or up to 540 to 640 total hours over two terms, to ensure depth of training rather than brief workplace exposure.

For academic track learners, options include a 320-hour immersion, an 80 to 160-hour arts apprenticeship, or an 80-hour field exposure.

Immersion protocols, however, enforce strict scheduling limits of a maximum of eight hours per day and 40 hours per week across flexible five-day schedules to protect the well-being of learners.

Partner companies undergo vetting processes through industry mapping and inspections, valid business permit and registration, and adherence to the DepEd Child Protection Policy.

Weekly Kumustahan mentoring sessions will also be in place to check on learners’ physical and emotional well-being, ensure adherence to the training plan, and resolve workplace challenges.

Overall, 80 percent of the performance assessment will come from industry mentor evaluation and 20 percent from school-based evaluation, facilitating National Certification qualification from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and SHS diploma. (PNA)