Teacher Education Curriculum and Specialization
- The Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) issued orders to establish policies and standards for teacher education.
- The curriculum includes specialization components to provide teachers with in-depth knowledge and skills in their respective fields.
Library Science Specialization Program at Philippine Normal College (PNC)/Philippine Normal University (PNU)
- Established in 1957 to address the need for teacher-librarians in public elementary and high schools.
- Designed to prepare teacher-librarians for library duties and management.
- Initially approved curriculum included 18 units of Library Science, later increased to 21 units, culminating in a certificate in Library Science.
- Open to Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (BSEED) graduate students and Bachelor of Science in Education (BSEE) graduates.
Gap in Licensure Eligibility Under R.A. 6966
- The law allows only Bachelor of Science in Education degree holders with specialization in Library Science to take the licensure exam for librarians.
- It does not explicitly include BSEED degree holders with Library Science specialization, thus excluding qualified elementary school teacher-librarians.
DECS Order No. 6, Series of 1998 and the Role of Teacher-Librarians
- Elementary teacher-librarians have been appointed to manage school libraries as mandated by DECS policy.
- These teacher-librarians have sought permission to be allowed to take the licensure examination, asserting their qualifications are on par with those at the secondary education level.
Legislative Developments and Urgency
- The inclusion of school librarian positions in the General Appropriations Act for the year 2000 increased the urgency of allowing these teacher-librarians to take the licensure exam.
Inclusion of Non-Teacher BSEED Graduates
- The resolution also considers non-teachers holding BSEED degrees who have completed 18 to 21 units of Library Science under the specialization program.
- Recognizes that these individuals are qualified to take the licensure examination.
Legal Basis for Allowance Despite Statutory Omissions
- Cites jurisprudence supporting the interpretation that legislative intention should be given effect even if there are omissions in the law.
- Emphasizes that ambiguity or omission should not bar qualified individuals from taking the licensure exam.
Resolution and Effectivity
- Graduates of Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with at least 18 units in Library Science are henceforth allowed to take the librarian licensure examination.
- The resolution took effect 15 days after publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation, whichever came first.