Education plays a critical role in shaping the future of any nation. The quality of education is heavily dependent on the caliber of educators. As the saying goes, the quality of education cannot surpass the quality of teachers. A recent World Bank report highlighted the poor teacher quality as a major factor contributing to our country’s disappointing performance in international education assessments. The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EdCom II), established through Republic Act No. 11899, is a crucial institution tasked with conducting a comprehensive national assessment and evaluation of the Philippine education sector.
Teacher education and development is one of the primary focus areas of EdCom II. One of the priority actions in this area is to align the efforts of the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), and Department of Education (DepEd) to enhance the quality of teachers from their initial training to their in-service training. Preservice teacher education refers to the training and preparation aspiring teachers undergo before entering the classroom as professional educators. It encompasses the pedagogical and subject-matter knowledge, skills, and values that teachers need to effectively nurture the next generation of learners. Many criticisms towards DepEd often neglect to address the misalignment between teachers’ competencies and the needs of the basic education sector, which starts as early as their preservice academic training in college. Some teacher education institutions fail to meet the required standards defined in the beginning career stage of the Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers (PPST). This inconsistency in quality affects the preparedness of future teachers. Additionally, some teacher education programs’ curriculum may not be aligned with the evolving needs of K-12 education.
EdCom II also focuses on ensuring that teacher education institutions (TEIs) meet performance standards. Data reveals that many higher education institutions, including 25 state universities and colleges, have consistently failed in the licensure examination for teachers. Ensuring that these TEIs perform well, according to CHEd’s quality standards, will contribute to a better and more competent teacher pool.
Aligning the preservice teacher education curriculum with the goals and competencies expected of teachers during their service ensures that the knowledge and skills taught to preservice teachers are in sync with the demands of the classroom. The Philippine National Research Center for Teacher Quality (RCTQ), a research institution established by the Philippine Normal University and the University of New England in Australia, has been instrumental in facilitating this alignment. Since 2017, RCTQ has been training many teacher education institutions in the country to undertake curriculum quality audits. This effective audit process aligns the preservice teacher curriculum with the institution’s educational goals and objectives, as well as with the PPST indicators for beginning teachers.
This alignment from preservice to in-service teacher education ensures that the knowledge and skills acquired during initial teacher training are continually honed throughout a teacher’s career. It enables teachers to adapt to new teaching methodologies, technologies, and educational trends. Scaling up this curriculum audit and alignment across all teacher education institutions nationwide is a vital step towards advancing education in the country.
When CHEd, PRC, and DepEd work collaboratively to operationalize this alignment, consistent and high-quality standards can be established for teacher education, licensing, and professional development. This will ensure that teachers are adequately prepared to meet the needs of the education system, the students they serve, and the nation as a whole. Together, we can create a more effective and fruitful education ecosystem for our teachers and educators.
To all of our teachers, you deserve nothing less than an aligned, responsive, and high-quality teacher education system. Happy Teachers’ Day!
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Professor Jennie V. Jocson is the Vice President for Academics at the Philippine Normal University and Concurrent Director of the Philippine Research Center for Teacher Quality. She serves as a member of the standing committees for higher education and teacher education and development of EdCom II.
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Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
