DAGUPAN CITY – The Commission on Higher Education, through the Technical Panel for Teacher Education, conducted a zonal public consultation on the revised policies, standards and guidelines (PSGs) for Bachelor of Education degree programs on August 11 at the Hotel Le Duc, Tapuac District, this city.
The consultation was attended by 130 participants from Regions I, II, III, and Cordillera Administrative Region.
Dr. Amelia Biglete highlighted the significance of aligning existing programs for borderless education and challenged the higher education institutions (HEI) to become responsive and innovative to respond to globalization.
Dr. Edizon Fermin discussed the milestones in the development of teacher education curriculum, emphasizing the effective connections among pre-service, in-service and professional development and justified the fusion, expansion and enrichment of the curriculum where it is essentially necessary to be more relevant.
On the other hand, Dr. Purita Bilbao presented the common standards in teacher education, citing the rationale for the revision. “We need to adapt to the ever-changing world that we have; therefore, consultations are conducted to have a curriculum in which HEIs will be proud of, as we move towards the ASEAN,” Bilbao added.
The proposed revised curricula have the following components: Bachelor of Elementary Education, 158 units; Bachelor of Inclusive and Special Needs Education, 155 units; Bachelor of Childhood Education, 158 units; Bachelor of Secondary Mathematics Education, 158 units; Bachelor of Secondary Science Education, 159 units; Bachelor of Secondary English Language Education, 161 units; Bachelor of Secondary Filipino Language Education, 167 units; Bachelor of Secondary Values Education, 155 units; and Bachelor of Secondary Social Science Education, 161 units. Specializations not included have separate schedules for public hearing.
Meanwhile, all private higher education institutions (PHEIs) intending to offer undergraduate programs in teacher education must first secure proper authority from the Commission in accordance with these PSGs. All PHEIs with existing programs are required to shift to an outcomes-based approach based on these PSGs and must secure approval for such a shift. State universities and colleges and local universities and colleges should likewise strictly adhere to the provisions in the policies and standards.
The proposed revised PSGs for undergraduate teacher education programs are expected to be out in December this year after a series of public consultations.
By MARLYN POKING-WACNAG