Law Summary
Declaration of Policy
- State policy to protect and promote citizens' right to quality education at all levels.
- Recognizes the critical role of teachers and school leaders in fostering effective teaching-learning processes.
- Establishes scholarship programs for teacher education students and graduate-level teachers/school leaders.
- Empowers the Teacher Education Council (the Council) to lead efforts to enhance teacher education quality, integrity, and professional growth.
Key Definitions
- Defines terms such as Administration of Licensure Examination, Assessment, Council, Excellence, Formal and Nonformal Education, Para-Teachers, Pre-Service Teachers, Professional Standards, Teacher Education-COEs, and others.
- Specifies roles and scope for teachers, school leaders, TEIs, and related education personnel.
Teacher Education Centers of Excellence (COEs)
- Establishes Teacher Education COEs in strategic regions across the Philippines.
- COEs must meet criteria including qualified faculty, innovative curriculum, research, and high licensure exam passing rates.
- COEs reviewed every three years to maintain standards.
- Objectives include conducting quality pre-service/in-service education, research, providing resources, mentoring TEIs, and publishing research.
Teacher Education Council (Composition and Function)
- Council composed of nine members including DepEd Secretary (Chair), CHED Chair (Vice-Chair), TESDA DG, NCCA Executive Director, PRC Chair, plus four appointed education experts.
- Serves to implement the Act, develop a teacher education roadmap, enforce program standards, designate COEs, promote career progression systems, and ensure integrity within teacher education.
- Conducts licensure exam analysis and provides policy formulation with PRC cooperation.
Council Secretariat
- Provides technical and administrative support to the Council.
- Comprises offices for Quality Pre-Service Teacher Education, Quality Teaching, and Finance/Administration.
- Overseen by an Executive Director appointed by the Council.
Teacher Education Scholarship Program (TESP)
- Offers financial assistance to deserving students pursuing teacher education in COEs.
- Assistance covers tuition, allowances for books, lodging, transportation, licensure exam fees, research support, among others.
- Managed by the UniFAST Board with academic and scholarship guidelines set by the Council.
Appointment and Selection of Council Secretariat Officers
- Executive Director appointed by the Council Chair with concurrence, serves a fixed five-year term, non-renewable.
- Candidates must have at least ten years teaching experience and a master’s degree.
- Other Secretariat officers appointed per executive service standards.
Monitoring, Review, and Coordination
- Five-year periodic review of teacher education policy implementation by DepEd Secretary, CHED Chair, and Council Advisor.
- The Council coordinates with DepEd, CHED, PRC, TESDA, NCCA, and UniFAST for data sharing, program oversight, and policy effectiveness.
Role of Local Government Units
- LGUs are mandated to include teacher education development programs in their plans, coordinating with COEs and education institutions.
National Educators' Academy of the Philippines (NEAP)
- Institutionalized as a DepEd unit for in-service teacher professional development.
- NEAP designs and implements evidence-based professional development programs aligned with professional standards.
- Provides scholarships for advanced studies and maintains a professional development information system.
Organizational and Budgetary Provisions
- Transition and holdover provisions for existing Council and NEAP personnel.
- Council to submit organizational structure and budget proposals to DBM.
- Budget included in DepEd's budget initially, with the Council eventually having an independent budget.
Reporting and Oversight
- Council required to submit annual detailed reports to Congress on teacher education status, challenges, solutions, and professionalism.
- Creation of a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee to monitor Act implementation.
Final Provisions
- Appropriations and funding mechanisms established.
- Rules for amendments, separability, repealing conflicting laws, and effectivity timelines provided.
These provisions collectively aim to elevate teacher education quality through systemic reforms, scholarship support, institutional excellence, professional development, and strong governance aligned with national education goals.