STATE OF THE PROVINCE ADDRESS.

THERE should be a university in Pangasinan for those who are gifted technically in the vocational industries.

This was the vision of Gov. Ramon Guico III for the education sector which he articulated in his State of the Province Address on Monday at the Sison Auditorium in Lingayen, and referred to it as the “out-of-the box Pangasinan Polytechnic University.”

Citing data from labor sector, that some only 50% of 50,000 job applicants in the province do not get hired and he surmised that it is because “they are not cut-out for academics…. our state universities are mostly academic, research-based and teaching schools.”

Guico noted that there are families who cannot send their children to college. “We have indigenous peoples’ communities in the province that need our attention. We must also institutionalize an education – to – employment model so that students are immediately connected with industry partners,” he said.

“We should provide a higher educational institution for them… to conceptualize new college and technical – vocational courses” and he suggested a “ground–breaking, cutting edge, and out-of-the box Pangasinan Polytechnic University.”

But he was quick to point out that such a university will not compete with the Pangasinan State University and not duplicate what other private schools are already doing. “Our posture should be complimentary and supplementary, not unproductive rivalry,” he said.

He cited the early beginning of the University of Eastern Pangasinan (UEP) in Binalonan.

He said when he was studying for his doctoral degree, and the establishment of an educational institute was his dissertation. “Sabi ko, I would like to transform my town to become a university town where private institutions through PPP (Public-Private Partnership) can help a small town establish its local university,” he said.

Since the government didn’t have the money and resources then, he decided to make a UP (Upper Palengke) for a school – to establish a school in the second floor of the palengke. “It made waves nationally in CHED (Commission on Higher Education) especially,” Guico proudly said.

He admitted they struggled for a couple of years as the LGU had to subsidize the teachers’ salaries and the Iskolar ng Bayan program but today he said almost 7,000 students are enrolled and the Binalonan government reimburses the tuition and miscellaneous expenses from the CHED’s Unifast program to the tune of 130 to 150 million pesos a year, he said.

He said his administration can duplicate the UEP experience with the establishment initially of a polytechnic college initially that will evolve into a university and established in different towns.

“We must partner with industry leaders to ensure that the knowledge and skills of our graduates qualify them for jobs that business establishments need,” he said. (Eva Visperas)

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