Gov’t launches national registry for legit teacher education programs

In a major crackdown on fraudulent and low-quality degree programs, the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) on Wednesday signed a Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) establishing a unified system to recognize and monitor higher education programs across the country.

The inter-agency initiative was witnessed by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM2) and the Teacher Education Council (TEC).

It aims to end the proliferation of “diploma mills” and protect students and teachers from unrecognized or bogus programs that have long undermined the credibility of Philippine higher education.

“This joint circular institutionalizes shared accountability for quality,” CHED Chairperson Dr. Shirley Agrupis said during the signing ceremony at the University of the Philippines – Bonifacio Global City Lounge.

“We are protecting students from fraudulent programs and ensuring that every degree issued in this country carries integrity and recognition.”

Under the circular, only government-recognized programs – validated through a Certificate of Program Compliance (COPC) or Government Recognition (GR) will be accepted for professional licensure, government employment, and promotion.

CHED, DepEd, PRC unite against ‘diploma mills’

The JMC will harmonize quality assurance policies across education and regulation agencies to ensure that only accredited programs produce graduates eligible for the Board Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (BLEPT).

PRC Chairperson Atty. Charito Zamora said the new system would close loopholes that have allowed graduates of unaccredited programs to sit for licensure exams.

“The commission will now strictly verify credentials through CHED’s registry,” Zamora said. 

“Those who studied in unrecognized programs will no longer be allowed to take licensure examinations unless granted a special authority during the transition period.”

DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara also expressed full support for the reform, saying the focus should now shift from teacher quantity to teacher quality.

“We don’t lack applicants; we lack quality outcomes,” Angara said. “This is not about restricting opportunities but ensuring that our teachers and graduates come from legitimate and high-standard programs.”

TEC Executive Director Dr. Jennie Jocson added that the circular “marks a new era of coherence in teacher education governance,” aligning pre-service and in-service quality standards across institutions.

EDCOM2 Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee, who witnessed the signing, said the agreement directly responds to recent findings showing many graduate programs are producing teachers without sufficient training or legitimate accreditation.

Online registry to expose fake and unrecognized programs

A key component of the circular is the creation of the Philippine Teacher Education Registry (FILTER) – a publicly accessible online database jointly maintained by CHED, DepEd, PRC, TEC, and EDCOM2.

The registry will serve as the sole authoritative reference to verify whether a teacher education program is recognized by the government. It will list institutions’ COPC or GR status, accreditation validity, and recent BLEPT performance.

Agrupis said the registry’s goal is simple: “Behind each mechanism is a simple goal – to protect learners, guide institutions, and maintain public trust.”

The DepEd said the FILTER system will be linked to its promotion and hiring platform, ensuring that only advanced degrees from accredited programs are counted toward teachers’ career advancement.

The agencies also formed a Quality Assurance Harmonization Committee (QAHC) to oversee inspections, align standards, and resolve operational issues from December 2025 to March 2028.

Following the signing, the three agencies issued a Joint Advisory on Teacher Education Programs dated November 12, 2025, affirming CHED’s and PRC’s authority to regulate, monitor, and recognize all higher education programs.

The advisory warned the public that degrees from unrecognized institutions or programs “shall be deemed spurious, invalid, and will not be honored for licensure, employment, or promotion.”

It clarified that all state universities and colleges (SUCs) must secure COPCs from CHED, local universities and colleges (LUCs) must obtain authorization and undergo periodic evaluation, and private higher education institutions (HEIs) must hold valid government recognition for all programs offered.

“All concerned stakeholders are enjoined to exercise utmost diligence by verifying the legitimacy and status of HEIs and their program offerings directly with CHED through official channels,” the advisory stated.

CHED also committed to honor valid recognitions issued before the JMC’s implementation unless revoked for cause. Graduates from programs currently under review may still qualify for licensure under special authority granted by the PRC.

From fragmented oversight to unified accountability

The JMC and Joint Advisory will undergo continuous review through 2028 as agencies jointly evaluate around 1,470 teacher education institutions nationwide.

The results of these assessments will serve as the basis for PRC’s rules on licensure eligibility and for DepEd’s standards on teacher promotion and ranking.

Officials said the reforms seek not only to weed out diploma mills but to rebuild public confidence in Philippine higher education.

“This is about restoring trust,” Agrupis noted. 

“Every Filipino student deserves a degree that truly opens doors – to licensure, to employment, and to a dignified profession,” he added. — JMA, GMA Integrated News