Bill seeks to reform teachers’ education House minority to remain as ‘balancing group’ despite majority-handpicked leader

A BILL reforming the educational program for teachers has been filed in the Senate in light of the “dismal” result of licensure exams since 2014. Senate Bill No. 1887, the Teacher Education Council Act, will amend Republic Act No. 7784 by improving coordination between the Department of Education and the Commission on Higher Education in developing a coherent pre-service and in-service education of teachers. RA 7784, passed in 1994, contains measures to strengthen teacher education. “Kailangan siguruhin natin na ang kaalaman, pagsasanay, at kahandaan ng mga guro ay naaangkop sa pangangailangan ng mga mag-aaral (We need to ensure that the knowledge, training, and preparedness of teachers are apt to fulfill the needs of the students),” Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian, chair of the basic education committee, said in a statement on Wednesday. Mr. Gatchalian cited the results of the Licensure Examination for Teachers from 2014 to 2019, which showed average passing rates of 28% for the elementary level and 36% in secondary. — Charmaine A. Tadalan

AN INDEPENDENT member in the House of Representatives said the minority bloc will maintain its role as “fiscalizer” despite having a new leader who was handpicked by the majority. “The minority will remain as a fiscalizer and balancing group in the House especially on legislation work,” Bicol Rep. Edcel C. Lagman said on Wednesday even as he noted that there is a “small aggrupation” of majority allies masquerading as members of the minority. “The handpicking by the majority leadership of the ‘minority leader’ was formalized in the 17th Congress and is perpetuated in the 18th Congress,” he said. The House minority bloc on late Monday elected Abang Lingkod Party-list Rep. Joseph Stephen S. Paduano as its new leader, replacing Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante, Jr. who filed his resignation during Friday’s plenary session to join the majority. Mr. Lagman said Mr. Paduano is part of the ‘anointed’ members of the minority, citing his presence during a meeting held earlier in Malacañang to settle the speakership row. Mr. Paduano, for his part, said in an online press conference that the minority bloc would remain steadfast in opposing legislative bills that would harm ordinary Filipinos and would not become a “co-opted minority” under the new House Speaker. — Kyle Aristophere T. Atienza