SENATOR Joel Villanueva has filed a measure seeking to amend Republic Act 7836, or the Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994.
In his Senate Bill 2913, Villanueva emphasized the crucial role teachers play in education.
A 2015 report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) highlighted studies showing positive links between student achievement and factors such as teachers’ academic skills, content knowledge, years of experience, and participation in professional development.
Villanueva asserts that teachers are vital resources in education and that maximizing their potential is key to improving the sector.
There is substantial evidence that teacher quality directly impacts student learning. The bill aims to expand the pool of nominees for the Board of Professional Teachers to include representatives from the Teacher Education Council, Department of Education, Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations, Commission on Higher Education, the Association of Local Colleges and Universities, and the Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges, alongside nominees from teacher associations and associations of teacher education students.
The bill also seeks to prevent conflicts of interest within the Board of Professional Teachers through PRC-issued rules. Additionally, it proposes improved qualification requirements for applicants for professional teacher registration and mandates refresher courses for those who have failed the PRC exam in the past three years.