Gatchalian files bill seeking reforms to improve teacher education

Senator Win Gatchalian has filed a bill that aims to improve teacher education in the country through reforms in the Teacher Education Council (TEC).

Gatchalian's Senate Bill No. 1887 amends Republic Act No. 7784, the law that created the TEC, which seeks to achieve better coordination between the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), ensure the link and coherence between pre-service education and in-service education, and improve teacher education outcomes. Pre-service refers to the training and education before becoming classroom teachers while in-service education covers those already working as teachers.

The TEC will set basic requirements and accredit teacher education programs in accordance with professional standards. These standards should be approved by the Department of Education (DepEd) or adopted by the TEC to set out expectations for professional practice of teachers and school heads. The TEC will also be tasked to evaluate Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) annually based on its prescribed standards.

The proposed measure also strengthens the TEC Secretariat by creating new offices. The Quality Teaching Office and the Quality School Leadership Office will ensure fair and consistent application of professional standards for teachers and school leaders respectively. The Quality Pre-Service Teacher Education Office will designate centers of excellence for teacher education, while the Research and Training Office will undertake research directed at teachers and school leaders. The Finance and Administration Office will also be formed to oversee matters such as human resources and financial functions.

The bill also institutionalizes the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP), DepEd's professional development arm, to provide and streamline professional development of teachers and school leaders.

According to Gatchalian, the dismal results of the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) in recent years add urgency on the need to improve the country's teacher education quality. From 2014 to 2019, LET results show that the average passing rate was only 28 percent for the elementary level and only 36 percent for the secondary level.

"Kailangang siguruhin natin na ang kaalaman, pagsasanay, at kahandaan ng mga guro ay naaangkop sa pangangailangan ng mga mag-aaral upang maiangat din ang kalidad ng edukasyon na natatanggap ng mga bata," said Gatchalian, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

Considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the bill mandates TEC to lay out plans that will ensure learning continuity during school closures, prolonged class suspensions, emergencies, or crises. Upholding the welfare of teacher and school heads will also become a function of the TEC under the proposed measure.

Gatchalian's bill also expands the TEC to include the heads of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), and the Philippine Normal University (PNU) which is the national center for teacher education.

"Ang pagsusulong natin ng reporma sa Teacher Education Council ay mahalagang hakbang upang magpatuloy din ang edukasyon sa mga guro at nang sa gayon ay maiangat ang kalidad ng edukasyon ng mga mag-aaral lalo na sa panahong bumabangon tayo mula sa pinsala ng COVID-19.

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Reporma sa edukasyon ng mga guro isinusulong ni Gatchalian

Naghain si Senador Win Gatchalian ng panukalang batas upang mas mapahusay pa ang kalidad ng edukasyon ng mga guro sa pamamagitan ng mga reporma sa Teacher Education Council o TEC.

Nabuo ang TEC nuong 1994 sa pamamagitan ng Republic Act No. 7784 upang i-angat ang kalidad ng edukasyon ng mga guro sa bansa. Ipinaliwanag ni Gatchalian na ang kakahain pa lamang niyang Senate Bill No. 1887 ay naglalayong amyemdahan ang kasalukuyang batas upang mas mapatatag ang TEC at magkaroon ng mas maayos na koordinasyon sa pagitan ng Department of Education (DepEd) at Commission on Higher Education (CHED).

Layon din ng naturang panukala na siguruhing handa ang mga guro bago sumabak na magturo sa classroom sa pamamagitan ng pagsasanay o ang tinatawag na pre-service education.

Sa ilalim ng panukalang batas, ang TEC ang magbibigay ng accreditation sa mga programa para sa edukasyon ng mga guro upang masigurong angkop ang mga ito sa mga tinatawag na professional standards na dapat ay aprubado ng DepEd at TEC. Sa ilalim ng panukalang batas ni Gatchalian, magiging mandato sa TEC ang pagsuri sa mga Teacher Education Institutions o TEIs.

Isinusulong din ng panukalang batas ang pagkakaroon ng iba't ibang mga tanggapan ng TEC para mas patatagin ang sistema ng naturang programa. Isa na dito ang Research and Training Office na magsasagawa ng mga pananaliksik.

Nababahala si Gatchalian sa mababang resulta ng Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) sa mga nagdaang taon. Mula 2014 hanggang 2019, ang average passing rate ng mga kumuha ng LET sa elementary level ay wala pang tatlumpung (28) porsyento at wala pang apatnapung (36) porsyento para sa secondary level.

"Kailangang siguruhin natin na ang kaalaman, pagsasanay, at kahandaan ng mga guro ay naaangkop sa pangangailangan ng mga mag-aaral upang maiangat din ang kalidad ng edukasyon na natatanggap ng mga bata," ani Gatchalian na Chairman ng Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture.

Dahil sa mga naging pinsala ng pandemya, ipinapanukala rin ni Gatchalian na dapat maglatag ng plano ang TEC upang matiyak ang pagpapatuloy ng edukasyon tuwing panahon ng mga krisis at sakuna, kabilang na rin ang pagtataguyod sa kapakanan ng mga guro at school heads.

Magiging bahagi na rin ng TEC sa ilalim ng naturang panukala ang mga pinuno ng Technical Education and Skills Development Authority o TESDA, National Economic and Development Authority o NEDA, at ang Philippine Normal University o PNU na tinaguriang national center for teacher education.

"Ang pagsusulong natin ng reporma sa Teacher Education Council ay mahalagang hakbang upang magpatuloy ang edukasyon at i-angat ang kalidad nito sa panahong bumabangon tayo mula sa pinsala ng COVID-19," pahayag ni Gatchalian.