Manila urged to refocus education

A World Bank official urged the government not to concentrate on producing 'globally competitive' graduates for jobs abroad but instead focus on the improvement of local industries.

Dr Djordjija Petkoski, restructuring specialist of the World Bank Institute told student leaders of various business schools in the country yesterday to assist the government in improving the local industries to produce sophisticated products to attract international partners.

He also urged the government to forge effective partnership with colleges and universities>

"We must focus on what will attract good companies with good reputation abroad to come to Philippines and not to come here because of cheap labour. They should come here for sophisticated products," said Petkoski in an interview during his lecture on Corporate Social Responsibility for Future Leaders. He was speaking at the University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) in eastern Manila.

Various student leaders from UA&P, University of the Philippines and the University of Santo Tomas attended the workshop that tackled social responsibility of the future business leaders in the country. Petkoski cited that an effective partnership between the academe and the local industries is key to improving the economy of the country.

During the interview, Petkoski cited the example of shoe industries in Italy which have become successful in the world. Today it is producing millions of earnings because the education system has been helping the firms in developing designs, improve productions and manpower training.

Petkoski said the main concern of World Bank is to help the Philippines improve the basic education.

He said the education system especially business schools must focus on the kind of people they want to work in the companies and what type of consumers they want to help.