Duterte backs bill strengthening teacher education in the country —Nograles

President Rodrigo Duterte sees the need to strengthen teacher education in the Philippines before his administration ends, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said Wednesday.

Nograles made the statement during the Senate committee on basic education, arts, and culture hearing on Senate Bill No. 1887 which seeks such.

"The executive branch is right behind and fully supportive of this bill as directed by the President himself in our 43rd Cabinet meeting," Nograles said.

"Does this mean that this bill, Senate Bill No. 1887, has the imprimatur of no less than our President?" Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, chair of the committee, asked.

"Yes... Alam naman po natin na patapos na rin 'yung admin ni Pangulo hanggang 2022 so mas mabuti nang ma-institutionalize natin kasi pwede naman mag-Executive Order pero alam naman nating ang Executive Order won't really cut it going to the last two years of the administration. We don't know what the next administration would do," Nograles responded.

The proposed measure seeks to enhance the professional development of teachers in the country by ensuring coherence and continuity between pre-service and in-service education of teachers.

It amends Republic Act No. 7784 and strengthens the Teacher Education Council (TEC) by designating the heads of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the National Economic and Development Authority, and the Philippine Normal University as ex officio members.

The bill also aims to institutionalize the National Educators Academy of the Philippines as an attached agency of the Department of Education.

Gatchalian, its author, highlighted the low passing rate in elementary and secondary teacher licensure examination results from 2014 to 2019 which averaged 28% and 36%, respectively.

The low scores of pre-service teachers on assessment of their knowledge on various core subjects, and the dismal performance of the country in the Programme for International Student Assessment examination in 2018 were also cited.

Gatchalian, however, pointed out during the hearing that some heads of vital agencies in the education sector are "not taking the TEC very seriously."

He said that out of the 12 meetings conducted by the TEC since 2017, only three had been attended by the Department of Education Secretary and Commission on Higher Education commissioner. The rest had been attended by their alternate representatives.

The head of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority never attended any, according to Gatchalian.

"We all know TESDA now plays a very important role in senior high school, in K-12," he said.

Senator Nancy Binay urged Nograles to nudge the concerned executive officials to give more attention to the TEC meetings.

"Baka naman puwedeng kalampagin ni CabSec na sana naman ay tutukan nila. Katulad ngayon, sa PhilHealth simula nung naungkat natin na hindi rin nag-aattend ang department secretaries, ngayon pag may PhilHealth meeting nag-aattend na sila," she said.

Under the existing law, the TEC is composed of the DepEd Secretary, CHED Commissioner, National Commission for Culture and the Arts representative, Professional Regulation Commission chairperson, and seven other members representing teachers.—AOL, GMA News