The Philippines and Australia launched a P1.6 billion education program Tuesday aimed at improving the job readiness of senior high school graduates as the government seeks to better align schooling with workforce needs.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara and Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong led the launch of the Education Quality for Inclusive Prosperity program at Mariano Marcos Memorial High School in Manila.

Funded by Australia through an initial AUD40 million (P1.6 billion) grant, the initiative will run from 2025 to 2030 and will be implemented by the Department of Education (DepEd) in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

The program includes an option to extend funding by an additional AUD20 million over three years, bringing the total potential investment to AUD60 million through 2033.

The initiative comes as the Marcos administration seeks to improve the employability of senior high school graduates amid persistent employer concerns over skills gaps and the uneven implementation of the K-to-12 curriculum introduced in 2013.

The government has been reviewing the senior high school framework to make it more responsive to industry demands.

“Through this partnership, let us continue building an education system that equips our learners with the competencies, confidence, and character they need to succeed in the future they deserve,” Angara said.

DepEd said the program will redesign work immersion for senior high school students with assistance from Australian educational institutions, including Melbourne Polytechnic, The Gordon Institute, and the Australian Council for Educational Research.

Employers will also participate in designing training for priority sectors, including construction, healthcare, information and communications technology, tourism, transport and logistics, and manufacturing.