September 22, 2022 – To further strengthen teacher education in the country, the Department of Education (DepEd), through the Teacher Education Council (TEC) Secretariat, has conducted stakeholders’ consultation for the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 11713 or the Excellence in Teacher Education Act.

In her message, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Z. Duterte noted that the passage of the Excellence in Teacher Education Act on April 27, 2022, which is cognizant of the need to strengthen pre-service teacher education in the country, will be vital in fortifying the delivery of accessible, resilient and quality basic education.

“As we put the law’s Implementing Rules and Regulations to a public consultation today, we are hopeful that Filipinos and education stakeholders value our efforts to improve the transparency, efficiency, and quality of this major policy breakthrough,” VP-Secretary Duterte said.

The crafted Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) were presented to the TEC Ex-officio Members from DepEd, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), and National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and TEC Regular Members for suggestions and recommendations.

Covering the draft IRR are the preliminary provisions, Teacher Education Scholarship Program, The Appointment/Selection of Offices of the Teacher Education Secretariat, The Review and Assessment of Implementation of Policies on Teacher Education, and Coordination with Other Government Agencies Involved in Education Programs.

Development and Improvement of Teacher Education by Local Government Units; National Educators’ Academy of the Philippines, Organizational Structure of the Teacher Education Council, Annual Report of the Status and Progress of Teacher Education and Teacher Quality, Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on Teacher Education, and Final Provisions are also included in the draft IRR.

According to RA 11713, the Act broadens and strengthens the function of TEC by enhancing Teacher Education Council, establishing a scholarship program, and institutionalizing the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP).

Aside from the TEC Ex-officio and Regular Members, it was participated in by representatives from Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs), Centers of Excellence (COEs) and Centers of Development (CODs) in Teacher Education, Philippine Association for Teachers and Educators (PAFTE), Philippine Association of Private Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAPSCU), Philippine Business for Education (PBEd), Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), directors, chiefs and representatives from DepEd offices and bureaus, and other stakeholders in education.

“By improving the quality of entry-level teachers and reskilling and upskilling our workforce, we develop our teachers’ capacity to teach higher-order thinking. This directly impacts our country’s goal of developing a high-value, knowledge-based manufacturing, and service industry economy,” VP-Sec. and TEC Ex-officio Chairperson Duterte explained.

 

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