QuestionsQuestions (PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 1998)
RA 11713 declares it the policy of the State to protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and to make such education accessible and relevant. It recognizes that teachers are key to effective teaching-learning processes, and that school leaders support teachers by fostering a culture for effective learning. It also mandates enhancing the quality of teacher education and training nationwide, including establishing scholarship programs for deserving teacher education students and strengthening system-wide leadership through the Teacher Education Council.
A Teacher Education-COE is a public or private college/institute/school/agency (or unit within a university/college) engaged in providing academic training for both formal and nonformal pre-service and continuing education. It must maintain an excellent track record in teacher education, instruction, qualified faculty, research, extension services, linkages, and its ability to produce top caliber graduates, based on criteria provided by the Act and the Council.
TEIs are higher education institutions recognized by CHED offering teacher education degree programs and certificates in teaching programs (or their equivalent), as approved by CHED.
The Act applies to teachers and school leaders in all public and private basic education institutions, and to all public and private TEIs.
The purpose is to have one or more Teacher Education-COEs in strategic places in each region, assessed and adjudged by the Council. If needed, additional COEs may be later established at the provincial level. Any designated COE must be reviewed and evaluated every three (3) years to ensure it continues to meet the Act’s criteria.
Examples include: (1) highly educated and professionally qualified faculty with integrity and commitment to excellence and Filipino culture; (2) well-selected students manifesting talent and commitment for teaching; (3) adequate library/research/study facilities; (4) competent administrative/support staff; (5) innovative and relevant curriculum development/instruction/mentoring/research; (6) adequate student services and development programs; (7) extension services and linkages; (8) licensure exam passing and teaching career pursuit rates; (9) graduates becoming professionals/leaders in education; and (10) other criteria set by the Council.
They include conducting innovative pre-service and in-service training (including alternative delivery); organizing collaborative research for improving teacher education policies and programs; serving as a teacher resource center for curricular/instructional materials; acting as a central node for networking teacher education disciplines in the region; providing professional assistance to TEIs (mentoring and helping accreditation pathways); encouraging mutual support among TEIs; developing high standards of research/innovation; and participating in a national research agenda for teacher education.
The Council has nine (9) members. Ex officio members include: Secretary of DepEd (Chair), CHED Chair (Vice-Chair), TESDA Director-General, NCCA Executive Director/Chairperson (as stated), and PRC Chairperson. Regular members are appointed by the President and include representatives: (1) a public basic education teacher; (2) an organization of deans of colleges of education and professional teachers/educators; (3) a national organization of private basic education institutions; and (4) an organization of school leaders from public or private basic education institutions.
The Council must set and mandate basic requirements for teacher education programs, monitor and quality assure CHED compliance, uphold professional standards through evidence-based policies, and ensure integrity of professional standards through periodic reviews. It also includes establishing a recognition system for career stages, creating incentives policies (e.g., scholarships/loans/stipends via UniFAST), monitoring professional development implementation, and ensuring professionalization aligns with professional standards and the Philippine Qualifications Framework.
The Council must formulate evidence-based policies and standards, including prescribing a national examination to determine eligibility for admission into a recognized TEI pre-service program and any successive pre-qualifying examination to verify readiness prior to the licensure examination. The Act also requires transparency for the licensure exam by requiring PRC to release the most recent questions and corresponding answers immediately after administration, along with item analysis and relevant test statistics to the Council.
TESP is established for deserving basic education graduates (public and private) pursuing an undergraduate teacher education degree program in Teacher Education-COEs, and for other eligible recipients as described in the Act. It is implemented by the UniFAST Board.
It may include free tuition and other school fees; allowances for books/supplies/learning materials; research support grant; clothing/uniform allowance; dormitory/boarding house allowance; transportation allowance; thesis/dissertation/project allowance; research publication fee (if applicable); licensure examination review fees; licensure fees; and other education-related miscellaneous living allowances.
It provides that grantees of other incentives under existing laws shall be ineligible to avail of the incentives under this Act. Additionally, the Council’s policy on acceptance/disqualification and eligibility criteria must determine conditions, but the Act expressly prohibits scholars from availing other incentives under existing laws.
It is established to attract and encourage top caliber students to teaching, establish a scholarship program implemented by UniFAST, and develop annual plans including teacher demand analysis and recruitment campaigns. It also partners with basic education schools for annual career talks, provides screening guidelines for qualified mentors, and coordinates implementation to ensure scholarship scholars complete their course only in designated COEs.
RA 11713 institutionalizes NEAP to provide quality professional development programs for in-service teachers, school leaders, and other teaching-related personnel in all public and private basic education institutions. NEAP is a component unit of DepEd and is headed by an Executive Director appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Secretary of DepEd.
NEAP must collaborate with the Council for coherence between pre-service and in-service education; design and implement professional development aligned with professional standards; coordinate, oversee, and monitor NEAP-recognized programs by various providers; conduct research and evaluate effectiveness of professional development; ensure equitable access; develop and maintain a professional development information system with credit units; coordinate with PRC for recognition/accreditation compliance; collaborate with TEIs for delivery; and exercise other necessary functions.