The Teacher Education Council (TEC) is set to review and redesign the curriculum for teachers by December 2024. This major shift is aimed at addressing issues with the current “one-size-fits-all” approach, which is no longer effective, according to Dr. Jennie Jocson, Executive Director of TEC.
During a recent meeting of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, EDCOM 2 Co-Chairperson Rep. Mark Go emphasized the need to improve teacher education. The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) reported that reforms within TEC have been delayed, despite the passage of the Excellence in Teacher Education Act in 2022.
A study by the World Bank highlighted significant gaps in teacher competency, revealing that many educators struggle with complex questions based on the current curriculum. This mirrors student performance in global assessments, such as the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), where Filipino students also underperformed.
Jocson stated that there is a need for flexibility in the curriculum, especially for state universities and colleges with strong teacher education programs. These institutions should have the freedom to adapt to the needs of their specific regions. “The curriculum must support regional contexts,” Jocson explained.
The discussion also explored the requirement for a master’s degree for educators. While higher academic qualifications lead to better performance, some experts argue that the master’s degree requirement for tenure could be limiting. Rep. Roman Romulo suggested revisiting this policy to ease the burden on instructors, while Dr. Cynthia Bautista, an EDCOM 2 Standing Committee member, pointed out that uneven quality in graduate education complicates the issue.
Dr. Edizon Fermin of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) mentioned that the CHED had already adopted more flexible pathways for teachers to earn their master’s and PhD degrees, including research-based and professional experience tracks.
These efforts mark an important step towards enhancing the quality of education in the Philippines, with the revised curriculum expected to be implemented by the end of 2024.
