President Duterte has signed into law the Excellence in Teacher Education Act which seeks to strengthen teacher education in the Philippines by revamping the Teacher Education Council (TEC) and establishing a scholarship program for aspiring teachers.
Republic Act (RA) No. 11713, which Duterte signed on April 27, 2022, applies to teachers and school leaders in all public and private primary education institutions and all public and private technical education institutions (TEIs).
The new law mandates the creation of Teacher Education Centers of Excellence (Teacher Education-COEs) in strategic places in every region of the country. These are public or private colleges, institutes, schools, or agencies that may exist by themselves or within a university or college, that are engaged in providing academic training for both formal and nonformal pre-service and continuing education of students, teachers, school leaders, and teacher education.
Qualifications of Teacher Education-COEs
A Teacher Education-COE must have a “highly educated, professionally qualified and experienced faculty recognized in their fields of study, exhibiting best practices in excellence in the education sector, integrity, commitment, promotes Filipino culture, and dedicated to the philosophy, mission, vision, and goals of the institution and education.”
It must also have the following:
- Well-selected students who manifest the talent and commitment to teaching
- Adequate library, research, and study facilities
- Competent administrative support staff
- Innovative, well-planned, and relevant curriculum development, instruction, mentoring, and research programs
- Adequate student services and development programs
- Relevant extension services, linkages, and outreach programs
- Percentage of graduates who pass the licensure examination for teachers and pursue a career in teaching
- Graduates who become professionals in the education training and development sector, or leaders in the education sector, or both
- Such other criteria as may be established and operationalized by the Council, which will be chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd) and vice-chaired by the chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
Teacher Education-COEs shall be reviewed and evaluated every three years to ensure that it continues to possess the criteria prescribed.
Functions of a Teacher Education-COE
A Teacher Education-COE must conduct innovative and relevant pre-service and in-service teacher education and training programs, including alternative delivery programs, to ensure access to education, continuity of learning, and resilience of the education system that shall develop and produce teachers who shall provide quality education to learners.
It shall organize and coordinate collaborative research on identified areas for systematic investigation in teacher education and serve as a teacher resource center for developing curricular or instructional materials. It shall likewise act as the central node for networking specific disciplines in teacher education in the region.
The Teacher Education-COE must provide professional assistance to TEIs if needed and encourage mutual support among TEIs in the region for upgrading and improving their programs.
It must develop high standards of conduct in research and innovation on teacher education, publish research papers in local or international refereed journals, and facilitate their accessibility and dissemination to TEIs and concerned agencies. It shall also participate in developing and implementing a national agenda for research in teacher education.
Teacher Education Scholarship Program
The new law establishes a Teacher Education Scholarship Program (TESP) for deserving basic education graduate and tertiary level students to pursue undergraduate teacher education degree programs in all Teacher Education-COEs.
The financial assistance under the TESP shall include the following, depending on the needs of the grantee:
- Free tuition and other school fees
- Allowance for prescribed books, supplies, and learning materials
- Research support grant
- Clothing or uniform allowance
- Allowance for dormitory or boarding house accommodation
- Transportation allowance
- Thesis, defense, or project allowance
- Research publication fee, if applicable
- Licensure examination review fees
- Licensure fees
- Other education-related miscellaneous subsistence or living allowance
The Council shall determine the TESP and the eligibility criteria and conditions for acceptance and disqualification from the program.
National Educators’ Academy of the Philippines
The law institutionalizes the National Educators’ Academy of the Philippines (NEAP) to provide quality professional development programs on teacher education to in-service teachers, school leaders, and other teaching-related personnel in all primary education institutions.
The NEAP shall employ a “world-class approach to professional development based on strong evidence and research.”
It will be a component unit of the DepEd and headed by an Executive Director who the President will appoint.