By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Win Gatchalian has reiterated his call for the effective implementation of the Excellence in Teacher Education Act, Republic Act No. 11713.
“Ang Excellence in Teacher Education Act is a crucial reform aimed at elevating the quality of education and training for our teachers. To ensure the administration delivers skilled educators, the law must be implemented smoothly,” said Gatchalian, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education.
This call comes in response to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s directive to the Department of Education (DepEd) to enhance teaching quality, prompted by the results of the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
The Excellence in Teacher Education Act, authored and sponsored by Gatchalian during the 18th Congress, overhauls the Teacher Education Council (TEC) by strengthening coordination between the DepEd, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). This coordination ensures coherence between pre-service and in-service teacher education programs. The TEC is also mandated to set minimum requirements for teacher education programs.
While Vice President and Secretary of Education Sara Duterte has committed to the full functionality of the new Teacher Education Council and Secretariat, Gatchalian emphasized the importance of implementing other provisions, such as the designation, identification, development, and establishment of Teacher Education Centers of Excellence in all regions.
Teacher Education Centers of Excellence have demonstrated and continue to maintain an outstanding track record in teacher education, producing top-caliber graduates.
(el Amigo/MNM)
