The Department of Education Central Office has approved the “Sugar Processing” Technical-Vocational-Livelihood Course, which is specifically designed for senior high school students interested in a career in the sugar industry as one of their elective specialization tracks.
With the DepEd approval, “Sugar Processing” was officially launched in Mabinay, Negros Oriental, where it was first introduced at Tara Provincial Community High School. It can now be offered in all senior high schools nationwide, particularly in sugar-producing provinces, a press release from
the Philippine Sugar Technologists Association Inc. (PHILSUTECH) said.
The curriculum for Sugar Processing was crafted primarily by PHILSUTECH, in collaboration with DepEd-Negros Oriental and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for the inclusion of sugar technology subjects for senior high school students.
Clifford O. Ignacio, principal of Tara Provincial Community High School in Mabinay, Negros Oriental, initially contacted Philsutech Past President Mario Palma in January 2020 to seek Philsutech’s expertise in the preparation of the competency-based curriculum, Haydee V. Rivera, Philsutech Corporate Secretary and Administrative Officer, said.
The late Jinah T. Cuenca, Philsutech Committee on Academe Chairperson, and Colegio de San Agustin – Bacolod professor Leo Diopenes, supported by the Philsutech Secretariat, formed a Technical Working Group with DepEd-Negros Oriental officials, including Ignacio, and TESDA personnel to craft the curriculum, Rivera added.
The Sugar Processing subjects are divided into four modules, which correspond to one subject per semester for Grade 11 and Grade 12 students.
Sugar Processing I (1st Semester – Grade 11) provides an overview of the global sugarcane industry, particularly the history and origin of sugarcane, sugarcane-producing countries in the world and sugarcane practices in different countries.
Sugar Processing II (2nd Semester – Grade 11) covers cultivation methods, sugarcane products and by-products, farm machineries and equipment used from land preparation to harvesting and hauling of sugarcane, and management of farm machineries and equipment.
Sugar Processing III (1st Semester – Grade 12) provides an overview of the sugar manufacturing process, from juice preparation, extraction of sugar and the shipment of bulk sugar.
Sugar Processing IV (2nd Semester – Grade 12) covers a more detailed discussion of the sugar manufacturing process, with emphasis on industry standards and guidelines.
Upon completion of the course, the students will be credited with a Level II National Competency Certificate in Technical-Vocational Livelihood Tract in Sugar Processing.
The course is expected to spur the students’ interest in the sugar industry, the major driver of Negros Island’s economy.
Negros Island is home to 13 of the country’s 25 active sugar mills, ten of which are in Negros Occidental and three in Negros Oriental, the press release said.*