Setting professional standards for school heads

Cristina L. Cordova

TWO landmark education policies have been issued by the Department of Education, setting professional standards for the country’s school leaders and clearly defining the roles of school heads and supervisors in improving teacher quality. These are DO 24, s. 2020 or the National Adoption and Implementation of the Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads (PPSSH), and DO 25, s. 2020 or the National Adoption and Implementation of the Philippine Professional Standards for Supervisors (PPSS). According to DepEd officials, the changes of various national and global frameworks in education and the changing characteristics of our 21st century learners necessitate a call for the rethinking of professional standards for school heads and supervisors. This is part of DepEd’s efforts to prepare for the transition into the future, officials said, wanting to develop effective school leaders for the future of education. The development of the PPSSH and the PPSS is one of the Department’s key reforms in improving the quality of education, agency officials added. They said quality learning outcomes are produced by quality teachers, who are supported by effective school leaders. Ensuring the delivery of quality education requires clear professional standards that are responsive to the demands of the dynamic education environment. The landmark policies are a product of a long-standing partnership between the Philippine and the Australian governments. Australia, through its support to the Philippine National Research Center for Teacher Quality (RCTQ)—a partnership between the Philippine Normal University and the University of New England, Australia—worked with DepEd in developing the two sets of standards. The development and adoption of professional standards for school heads, supervisors and teachers are significant milestones in DepEd’s efforts to improve teaching quality, according to Australian officials. These evidence-based policies will help align the education system with global standards while responding to the Philippine context. The standards, which are consistent with the K to 12 reforms, set out clear expectations of school heads and supervisors at different career stages, from beginning to exemplary practice. The standards encourage greater proficiency; provide support for professional learning and development; help identify development needs; and facilitate uniform assessment of performance. They also complement the Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers (PPST) – a major teacher quality reform supported by Australia and RCTQ – that was adopted as DepEd policy in 2017 and is now used by over 800,000 public school teachers. The professional standards will provide a clear framework for school leaders to deepen their expertise in pedagogical, management and leadership skills, in ways that support improved student learning outcomes.