Improving quality of teacher education colleges

Noting the latest results of the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET), I, in my capacity as Chair of the House Committee on Civil Service and Professional Regulation and Member of the Committee on Higher and Technical Education, recommend to the Second Congressional Commission on Education that most teacher education colleges be allowed to have open enrolment but selective retention policies wherein everyone who passes the entrance exams is admitted, but there should be higher grade standards at each year level of teacher education college studies.

There should also be qualifying examinations before a second year student moves up to the third year in any teacher education program. Those who do not meet the selective retention standards can horizontally shift to other programs in the university they are enrolled in.

Sa pamamagitan ng ganitong pagsasala, matitiyak natin na iyon lamang mga college students na may kakayahan at kahandaan ang makakapagpatuloy sa kanilang kursong Education, makaka-graduate, at makakapag-LET kinalaunan.

(Through this screening, we can ensure that only those college students with the ability and readiness will be able to continue their Education course, graduate, and take the LET later.)

Pabor ang hakbang na ito sa mga estudyante, sapagkat pinatataas natin ang tyansa nilang makapasa sa LET; pabor din ito sa mga unibersidad at kolehiyo sapagkat tatataas ang passing rate ng kanilang Bachelor of Education programs.

(This step is in favor of the students, because we increase their chances of passing the LET; it is also favorable to universities and colleges because the passing rate of their Bachelor of Education programs will increase.)

Pabor ito sa sambayanang Pilipino, sapagkat matitiyak nitong tunay na may kakayahan ang mga guro na maeempleyo sa ating mga paaralan.

(This is in favor of the Filipino people, because it will ensure that the teachers who will be employed in our schools are truly competent.)

Ang mataas at hindi matatawarang kalidad ng kaguruan ang argumento natin upang itaas pa lalo ang sahod ng LAHAT ng guro, kahanay ng ibang propesyunal, sapagkat deserved ng magagaling na guro ang mataas na sahod at deserved din ng kabataang Pilipino na maturuan ng mahuhusay na guro.

(The high and incomparable quality of teaching is our argument to raise the salary of ALL teachers, along with other professionals, because good teachers deserve a high salary and the Filipino youth also deserve to be taught by good teachers.)

Mag-uumpisa lahat yan sa pagpapataas natin ng kalidad ng teacher education.

(All of that will start with us raising the quality of teacher education.)

Perhaps the Professional Regulation Commission and the Commission on Higher Education could work out other categories of licensed teachers aside from licensed professional teachers.

In other countries, for example, there are specialized or specific licenses or certifications for sign language teachers, Braille teachers, physical fitness teachers, fitness trainers, teaching assistants, substitute teachers, provisional licenses, and teaching aides.

In the current International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO 88), there are different categories of teachers. Aside from professional teachers, there are categories for associate professionals in different specializations.