To better address concerns over the reported subject-instructor mismatch among public educators, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian called for full and more effective implementation of Republic Act No. 11713 or the ‘Excellence in Teacher Education Act.’
Gatchalian issued the statement after the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) recently reported that 62 percent of high school teachers were assigned to teach subjects they did not major in.
Various reasons were raised for the mismatch, including the lack of teachers specializing in particular subjects. EDCOM 2 Executive Director Karol Mark Yee also reported that during the hiring process for teachers, the subjects they are supposed to teach were not indicated.
Aside from addressing gaps in the hiring process, Gatchalian emphasized the importance of the Teacher Education Council’s (TEC) full operationalization to help ensure the availability of qualified teachers—the most important factor in learners’ education.
The Excellence in Teacher Education Act revamped the TEC to improve the quality of training of state educators by strengthening coordination between the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
TEC is mandated under the law to include the establishment of a teacher education roadmap, which shall be submitted to the CHED for inclusion in the national higher education roadmap.
It is also tasked with setting basic requirements for teacher education programs; recommending policies on attracting high school students to pursue an education degree, and ensuring a seamless transition from higher education to employment in teaching.
Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate committee on basic education, underscored that proper implementation of the law would ensure that teachers are receiving the constant learning they also need to better teach their students.
