Manila: The Senate Committee on Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation on Tuesday initiated public hearings on the proposed amendments to Republic Act (RA) No. 7836, also known as the Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994. These amendments aim to enhance professional standards and broaden the pool of qualified teachers in the country.
According to Philippines News Agency, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, who led the hearing, highlighted the need for reform in the education system. "After 21 years, we are looking at amending it again. The purpose of amending this is because of new developments and innovations in relation to the teaching profession," Gatchalian stated in his opening remarks. He further stressed the importance of continuously evaluating the laws governing various professions, including teaching, to ensure they remain relevant to current innovations and scientific advancements.
The proposed amendments suggest enhancing the qualifications for members of the Board for Professional Teachers by requiring at least a master's degree in education or related fields. Additionally, the measures propose alternative pathways for teacher registration and licensure, allowing those with prior teaching experience or graduates from accredited teacher education institutions to enter the profession without the licensure examination, provided they meet competency standards.
The amendments also aim to define more specific examination scopes for early childhood, elementary, and secondary levels, and introduce new fields of specialization as recommended by the Teacher Education Council. Other notable provisions include mandatory refresher courses for individuals who fail the licensure examination three times, prompt release of Licensure Examination for Teachers questions and answers after the test, and publication of the performance of teacher education institutions in licensure examinations.
Mario Bermudez, Officer-in-Charge of the Department of Education's Bureau of Human Resources and Organizational Development, expressed the agency's support for the initiative. "The Bureau recognizes that the proposed amendments intend to address critical issues such as aligning teacher training with teacher professional standards, improving licensure system, establishing accountability structures among teacher education institutions for graduate outcomes," Bermudez commented.
Runvi Manguerra, Executive Director of the Teachers Education Council, shared optimism regarding the amendments, believing they would lead to a more responsive and effective system for preparing and supporting teachers in the country. "The council believes that a strong and effective workforce is the foundation of a thriving education system," Manguerra stated.
The Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act was initially enacted to promote the development and professionalization of teachers and the teaching profession, overseeing the supervision and regulation of the licensure examination for teachers. It was partially amended in 2004 by RA 9293, which revised specific sections of the law.
