QuestionsQuestions (TEC)
RA 7784 aims to strengthen teacher education by establishing Centers of Excellence and creating a Teacher Education Council, with appropriate funding, to ensure quality teacher education nationwide. The policy direction emphasizes protecting and promoting the right to quality education, recognizing teachers as key to effective teaching-learning, and building a national system of excellence for teacher education.
They set guidelines and procedures to implement RA 7784, specifically to strengthen teacher education by establishing Centers of Excellence and creating the Teacher Education Council, thereby facilitating compliance and achieving the Act’s objectives.
A “Teacher” includes persons engaged in classroom teaching at elementary and secondary levels (including practical/vocational arts), guidance and counselling services, and instructional supervision in both public and private educational institutions. Exclusions include school nurses, school physicians, school dentists, school administrators, and other school administrative support employees.
“Teacher Education” includes pre-service education, graduate education, and in-service education across specialization areas of teachers in both public and private institutions of basic education.
“Excellence” pertains to effective, efficient, and innovative delivery of relevant, functional, and quality programs in teacher education, training, research and community service beyond the minimum requirement to operate a program, as attested by accredited status.
A Center of Excellence is a public or private college, institute, school, or agency engaged in pre-service and continuing education (formal and non-formal) of teachers and teacher educators, maintaining a track record in teacher education (including graduates’ performance, LET results, and professional achievement), research, and community service based on criteria under the Act.
They include: (1) qualified and experienced faculty aligned with the institution’s education philosophy/mission; (2) adequate library, research, and study facilities; (3) competent administrative and support staff; (4) well-selected students based on admission policies/standards; (5) well-planned and relevant instructional programs; (6) adequate student development programs; (7) adequate student services; (8) relevant extension and outreach; (9) average LET pass percentage for the last three years; (10) percentage of graduates who become teachers; and (11) other criteria operationalized by the Council (e.g., innovativeness).
The institution must be maintained by the Council for at least five (5) years before any proposal to transfer it elsewhere can be affected.
The Council, in coordination with the TECE, forms a national network, which then networks with elementary and high schools in both public and private institutions (or parts thereof) for laboratory purposes.
They include: (a) experimenting with innovative teacher education/training programs; (b) organizing collaborative research for improving teacher education; (c) serving as a teacher resource center for curricular/instructional materials; (d) serving as the central node for networking disciplines in teacher education in the region; (e) providing professional assistance to teacher education institutions needing it; (f) encouraging mutual support among TEIs to upgrade programs; and (g) facilitating accreditation among TEIs through recognized accrediting bodies (FAAP) or CHED-equivalent accreditation.
It has four (4) permanent members and seven (7) regular members. Permanent members are: (1) Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports (ex-officio chairman); (2) a CHED Commissioner (ex-officio); (3) PRC Chairman (ex-officio); and (4) NCCA representative (ex-officio). Regular members are appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Council Chairman and consultation with TEC, representing Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, and subject-area teacher representatives for Science, Mathematics, Social Studies, and Language.
They must take into account the views of parents, teachers, community associations, student associations, NGOs, and people organizations concerned with basic education.
Regular members hold office for three (3) years. Members serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in carrying out duties, subject to usual accounting/auditing rules.
Integrity; expertise and experience in teacher education and its activities; recognized expertise in education in any specialization area (nationally or internationally); and willingness to serve. The institution where the member is connected must support the member with official time or financial assistance for Council duties.
Among others, the Council can identify and designate Centers of Excellence; formulate policies and standards for teacher education; initiate periodic review of curricula and programs (including self-assessment and peer review); adopt incentive systems to attract outstanding students to teacher education; encourage consortia among TEIs; facilitate collaborative training and research; and call upon government agencies and LGUs for assistance.
The Council Secretariat is organized within 30 days from promulgation and is headed by an Executive Director appointed by the Council. The Executive Director reports directly to the Council Chairman and assists in executing Council policies and programs, administers day-to-day operations (including annual convention, monitoring and evaluation), updates the Council on related activities and TEI performance, and develops a Teacher Education Management Information System.
Initial funding is P100,000,000.00 authorized from the income of duty-free shops/Trust Liability Account of the Department of Tourism. Not more than 5% (P5M) may be devoted to Council expenses. A special TEC-account is set up. Funds are administered by the Executive Director, who renders annual financial accountability reports to the Council. Accounting is undertaken by DECS and auditing by the DECS Resident Auditor.