The Department of Education (DepEd) has partnered with the Philippine Normal University (PNU) to provide professional development of teachers, academic supervisors, and school leaders.

DepEd formally announced this partnership in a statement issued Friday, April 30. To further support the professional growth of educators, Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones highlighted that the collaboration with PNU is part of the department’s commitment to upskill and reskill teachers nationwide.

“It is but appropriate that we finally formalize this friendship, this partnership, this professional exchange of knowledge and ideas as we face the challenges of education,” Briones said.

DepEd and PNU held a virtual ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on April 14. Under the MOU, DepEd and PNU will work together in the following areas: pre-service teacher education, teacher education and teaching standards, researches and case studies, in-service continuing professional education of teachers, school leaders, and academic supervisors, and database of education policies.

Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan said that the “purpose of the understanding is to primarily identify areas of cooperation between DepEd and PNU pursuant to their respective mandates, towards upgrading the professional development of teachers and school leaders.”

As one of the areas of cooperation, select DepEd teachers and school leaders will be offered customized graduate degree and diploma programs approved and recognized by the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP).

PNU, as an authorized Learning Service Provider of NEAP, will offer customized programs called Linking Standards & Quality Practice (LiSQuP), a two-year assistance to DepEd to develop and deliver differentiated and standards-based professional development programs with focus on making quality practice common practice among education personnel.

The LiSQuP will have 12 Master’s Degree Programs in various specializations, eight Doctorate Programs in various specializations, and two Executive Programs, and at least 2,800 teachers, school heads, and supervisors will benefit in the initial run of the program.

Meanwhile, PNU President Dr. Bert J. Tuga said that the partnership shows that PNU, as the national center for teacher education, is “committed to wholeheartedly uphold its mission to nurturing innovative teachers and education leaders in our schools and safeguarding the quality of education in the country.”