Stricter requirements for maritime schools

To address the shortcomings earlier identified by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) in maritime education and training in the country, education and maritime authorities proposed stricter requirements for maritime schools.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) and the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) are jointly revising their series of Joint Memorandum Circulars (JCMMC) 1-3 series of 2019 in their bid to address the shortcomings. The move, however, will make it difficult for new schools to secure authority to offer BS Marine Transportation (BSMT) or BS Marine Engineering (BSMarE) programs as well as gradually trim down the number of substandard maritime higher education institutions (MHEIs), eventually.