The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) on Monday, Feb. 5, issued a notice to suspend the unit requirement, as provided under Board Resolution No. 34 (s.2022), for the major component or area of specialization for graduates of non-education courses for the Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LEPT).
Starting in March, PRC underscored that the determination of the appropriate major component or area of specialization for graduates of non-education courses taking the LEPT will be based on Board Resolution No. 51 (s.2016) "until further notice."
Board Resolution No. 51
Under Board Resolution No. 51 is the "Republic Act No. 7836 or the Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994, as amended by R. A. No. 9293, provides for the educational qualifications for admission to the Board Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (BLEPT), to wit: Sec. 15. Qualification Requirements of Applicant."
The law stipulates that no applicant shall be allowed to take the examination unless, at the time of application filing, they have satisfied the following requirements:
"(e) A graduate of a school, college or university recognized by the government and possesses the minimum educational qualifications, as follows: (1) For teachers in preschool, a bachelor's degree in early childhood education (BECED) or its equivalent; (2) For teachers in the elementary grades, a bachelor's degree in elementary education (BSEED) or its equivalent; (3) For teachers in the secondary grades, a bachelor's degree in education or its equivalent with a major and minor, or a bachelor's degree in arts and sciences with at least eighteen (18) units in professional education; and (4) For teachers of vocational and two-year technical courses, a bachelor's degree in the field of specialization or its equivalent, with at least eighteen (18) units in professional education," written in the R.A. No. 7836.
Resolution No. 2000-242
Meanwhile, supplemented by Resolution No. 2008-07, the Professional Regulatory Board for Professional Teachers (Board) issued Resolution No. 2000-242.
This resolution stated, "on the academic degrees which have been determined and identified to be equivalent to those academic degrees required of applicants taking the BLEPT for the preschool, elementary and secondary levels."
CHED Memorandum Order No. 2004-30
Moreover, under the Board Resolution No. 51 is the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Order No. 2004-30, entitled "Revised Policies and Standards for Undergraduate Teacher Education Curriculum."
In the mentioned directive, students pursuing a Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSEd) are mandated to fulfill a minimum of 60 units of content courses in one of the specified majors or areas of specialization:
"(a) Mathematics; (b) Physical Sciences; (c) Biological Sciences; (d) English; (e) Filipino; (f) Social Studies; (g) Values Education; (h) Technology and Livelihood Education; (i) Music, Arts, Physical and Health Education; (j) Islamic Studies," said in the resolution.
For non-education graduates
Furthermore, PRC noted there have been inquiries directed to the Board regarding the suitable major or area of specialization in the BLEPT Secondary Level that graduates of non-education courses should pursue to acquire a teaching license.
"The Board carefully reviewed the curricula of various non-education courses, with a view of formulating a policy guideline that will prescribe the appropriate major component or area of specialization in the BLEPT Secondary Level for graduates of such non-education courses," PRC said.
To address the inquiries, PRC highlighted that graduates of the following non-education courses will be designated to the major or area of specialization, as provided herein, for admission to the BLEPT Secondary Level:
Moreover, here is the "guide in the designation of the major component in the Secondary BLEPT for non-education bachelor's degree holders with the required 18 units of Professional Education:"
In addition, the PRC emphasized that for non-education graduates, the filing of applications for the March 2024 LEPT will be reopened from Feb. 6 to Feb. 16.