THE PHILIPPINES HAVE A POPULATION OF 32 MILLION OF WHICH 60 PERCENT ARE ENGAGED IN AGRICULTURE. RECENT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT HAS INVOLVED INCREASING STABILITY TO PROVIDE A BASIS FOR GROWTH. THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IS BASED ON A 6-YEAR ELEMENTARY AND A 4-YEAR SECONDARY SCHOOL COURSE. SECONDARY EDUCATION IS PROVIDED AT EITHER A GENERAL SCHOOL OR A VOCATIONAL AND TRADE SCHOOL. THERE ARE 14 STATE ART, TRADE, AND TEACHER-TRAINING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN ADDITION TO 25 PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES AND 434 PRIVATE COLLEGES WHICH OFFER TEACHER TRAINING, BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, ENGINEERING, NURSING, PHARMACY, AGRICULTURE, CHEMISTRY, DENTISTRY, AND OPTOMETRY. TRADE COURSES ARE OPERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN CONJUNCTION WITH APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING, BUT THERE ARE ALSO NATIONAL ARTS, TRADES, FISHERY AND AGRICULTURAL SCHOOLS WHICH ENROLL STUDENTS AT THE SECONDARY AND POST-SECONDARY LEVELS. FORMAL COURSES FOR SEMISKILLED WORKERS ARE OFFERED IN NATIONAL SCHOOLS OF ARTS AND TRADES AND IN STATE COLLEGES. NO ORGANIZED TECHNICAL TEACHER TRAINING IS AVAILABLE. APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING IS A JOINT INDUSTRY-GOVERNMENT UNDERTAKING UNDER NATIONAL LAW, AND MOST CURRENT PROGRAMS ARE IN THE TEXTILE, SERVICE, MACHINE, AND PRINTING TRADES. NO TRADE IS CONSIDERED APPRENTICEABLE IF IT REQUIRES FEWER THAN 2,000 ON-THE-JOB HOURS. IN-INDUSTRY TRAINING FOR SUPERVISORS IS THE ONLY ORGANIZED IN-PLANT TRAINING BESIDES APPRENTICE TRAINING. THE BUREAU OF VOCATIONAL EDUCATION PROVIDES SHORT ADULT OPPORTUNITY COURSES IN TRADES SUCH AS AUTO MECHANICS, REFRIGERATION, FOUNDRY, CARPENTRY, PRINTING, ELECTRONICS, AND ELECTRICITY. (JM)