Manila: The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) have signed a Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) to establish Teacher Education Excellence Centers (TEEC) across the country, aiming to strengthen support for the education sector.

According to Philippines News Agency, Education Secretary Sonny Angara stated that the establishment of the TEEC aims to enhance the quality of education over time. Angara emphasized that these centers represent a strategic reform intended to strengthen and elevate the teaching workforce nationwide.

The TEECs will serve as national research centers, innovation hubs, and laboratories for teacher education. They will feature evidence-based training models, contribute to modernizing curricula, and integrate advanced technology into educator preparation. The centers are designed to benefit pre-service and in-service teachers, teacher educators, and school leaders, as well as specialized groups such as child development workers, pre-service student tutors, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) trainers, multigrade teachers, and deans of colleges of education.

To ensure widespread implementation, the Teacher Education Council (TEC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with six Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs). These institutions will be the initial implementors of the program and include the Philippine Normal University-Manila (National Capital Region), University of the Philippines-Los Ba±os (South Luzon), University of San Carlos (Visayas), Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (Northern Mindanao), Caraga State University (Eastern Mindanao), and Cotabato State University (BARMM).