The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) inked the partnership agreement with the Philippine Normal University (PNU) on Tuesday, August 27.
In the signing ceremony, EDCOM 2 Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee stated the importance of reforming the education system with the help and collaboration of teachers.
“We need to see our teachers as our collaborators in reforming our education system. The reforms that our teachers want are the reforms that we want. PNU has always been there to support massive reforms in education. Your participation and your invaluable support really shows how important teacher education is in our education system,” Yee stressed.
One of the most pressing issues in EDCOM 2’s Year One Report was the amount of teachers that are not adequately prepared to handle the specific content and skills required in their assigned subjects. The highlighted challenge in teacher education, significantly impacts the quality of education that students receive in the classroom.
Through their partnership with PNU, they will collaborate with PNU’s Research Institute for Teacher Quality (RITQ) on initiatives in pre-service teacher eduction such as:
- focusing on developing a senior high school track for education
- creating a differentiated pre-service teacher education curriculum with an emphasis on experiential learning
- rethinking the Certificate in Teaching Program
- conducting a comprehensive review of graduate programs
Furthermore, EDCOM 2 also mentioned the amendments made by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on teachers who fail to meet their minimum standards. Section 25 of CMO Nos. 74 to 80 and 82, series of 2017 indicates that those who “consistently underperform in the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) and failing to meet CHED’s minimum standards will be issued a notice of immediate closure.”
Additionally, PNU will also initiate the enhancement of Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs), including the profiling of teacher educators and upskilling them to better align with the needs of the Department of Education (DepEd).
PNU President Dr. Bert J. Tuga said that the collaboration between EDCOM 2 and PNU would allow for innovative solutions to emerge based from their shared resources and expertise on the challenges faced in the education system.
“I am pretty hopeful that we can change EDCOM’s first report into a more positive view after its third year, with more evidence-based recommendations on how we can address issues related to education,” Dr. Tuga mentioned.
