Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday urged for the passage of a measure seeking to strengthen the professional standards and pool of qualified teachers, while enabling the Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) to reinforce the constructive alignment between the curriculum, teacher training, and licensure examination.
Senate Bill (SB) No. 2840 seeks to amend Republic Act No. 7836 or the Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act, as amended by Republic Act No. 9293.
In pushing for the measure, Gatchalian pointed out that the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) is the measure by which the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Board for Professional Teachers (Board) ascertain the educational preparedness of future educators.
“From 2017 to 2019, the average national passing rates for elementary and secondary education examinees were below 50 percent. A World Bank study examined data from 2009 to 2017 with findings implying the need to improve teacher preparation as teachers performed poorly on tests measuring teacher content knowledge,” he said in a news release.
“Considering the importance of the LET in determining teaching quality, the need to revisit the Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994 is necessary.”
The proposed reforms under SB 2840 include, among others, additional qualifications and expertise for the Members of the Board for Professional Teachers; prohibition of conflict of interest; and pathways for the application of registration as professional teachers.
In lieu of taking the licensure examination to register as a professional teacher, graduates of accredited teacher education centers of excellence with a consistent rate of at least 80 percent in the last five years may submit a portfolio showing attainment of professional standards for teachers.
The bill also allows the registration of individuals qualified to take the licensure exam without actually taking it, provided they have at least 10 years of teaching experience prior to the Act's implementation.
Within three years of the Act’s effectivity, they should apply for registration and issuance of a certificate of registration and professional identification card by submitting a teaching experience portfolio, which will be used for the thorough evaluation of acquired knowledge and expertise comparable to professional standards.
Aspiring teachers who failed the licensure examination three times will also be required to complete a refresher course in a Commission on Higher Education (CHED)-recognized Teacher Education Institution (TEI) within one year before retaking the examination.
The proposed measure requires the PRC to submit the licensure exam questions and answers to the Teacher Education Council (TEC) immediately after the exam.
Once results are released, the PRC must publicize the examination questions and TEI performance, along with reporting candidate ratings for each exam component.
Under the bill, the Department of Education, CHED, TEC, Early Childhood Care and Development Council, Association of Local State Colleges and Universities, Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges, and an accredited association of teachers shall each recommend one nominee to the Board for Professional Teachers, whose five members shall be chosen by the President.
The bill requires that Board Members must hold at least a master’s degree, preferably an earned doctorate, from a reputable college, institution, or school.
It also opens Board Membership to faculty members from TEIs who have been teaching courses in professional education, general education, or any field of specialization for at least 10 years. (PNA)
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