Excellence in Teacher Education Act

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Republic Act No. 11713 (Excellence in Teacher Education Act)

Declaration of Policy (Sec. 2)
- Protect and promote the right to quality education at all levels
- Recognize the role of teachers and school leaders in effective teaching-learning processes
- Ensure quality teacher education nationwide through the Teacher Education Council

Definitions (Sec. 3)
- Defines terms like excellence, formal education, in-service education, nonformal education, other teaching-related personnel, para-teachers, pre-service teacher education programs, pre-service teachers, professional standards, school leaders, teacher, teacher education, Teacher Education Center of Excellence (Teacher Education-COE), Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs), teacher education programs, and teacher educators.

Coverage (Sec. 4)
- Applies to teachers, school leaders in public and private basic education institutions, and public and private TEIs.

Teacher Education-COE (Sec. 5)
- Identifies, designates, establishes or develops Teacher Education-COEs in strategic places in each region based on criteria assessed by the Council.
- At least one TEI from Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao, Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao shall be established as a Center of Excellence in Special Needs Education.
- Criteria for identifying Teacher Education-COEs include highly qualified faculty, well-selected students, adequate facilities, competent staff, innovative curriculum and programs, student services, extension services, percentage of graduates passing licensure exam and pursuing teaching career, and other criteria set by the Council.
- Teacher Education-COEs shall form a national network and engage with schools for laboratory purposes.
- Teacher Education-COEs shall be reviewed and evaluated every three years.

Objectives and Functions of a Teacher Education-COE (Sec. 6)
- Conduct innovative pre-service and in-service teacher education and training programs.
- Organize collaborative research on teacher education.
- Serve as teacher resource center for curricular or instructional materials.
- Act as central node for networking specific disciplines in teacher education in the region.
- Provide professional assistance to TEIs, including mentoring for accreditation.
- Encourage mutual support among TEIs for upgrading programs.
- Develop high standards of conduct in research and innovation on teacher education.
- Participate in the development and implementation of a national agenda for research in teacher education.

Teacher Education Council; Composition (Sec. 7)
- The Council shall be composed of 9 members, including ex officio members (DepEd Secretary as Chairperson, CHED Chairperson as Vice-Chairperson, TESDA Director-General, NCCA Executive Director, PRC Chairperson) and regular members appointed by the President (teacher representative, representative from organization of deans of colleges of education, representative from organization of private basic education institutions, representative from organization of school leaders).
- Regular members shall serve for 3 years, renewable once.

Powers and Functions of the Council (Sec. 8)
- Establish a roadmap for teacher education.
- Strengthen link between pre-service and in-service teacher education programs.
- Set basic requirements for teacher education programs and ensure compliance.
- Identify and designate Teacher Education-COEs.
- Uphold and maintain integrity of professional standards for teachers and school leaders.
- Establish policies to implement system of recognition for career stages based on professional standards.
- Support teachers and school leaders through requirements for career-stage recognition processes.
- Establish policy on effective system of incentives like scholarships, grants, loans, subsidies, stipends.
- Monitor and evaluate implementation of professional standards and professional development programs.
- Ensure alignment of teacher professionalization system with professional standards and Philippine Qualifications Framework.
- Recommend strategies to TEIs for implementation of ladderized education programs.
- Recommend strategies to attract outstanding graduates to pursue education degree.
- Undertake and share research related to teaching and school leadership.
- Create, reorganize or abolish offices under the Secretariat.
- Encourage establishment of consortia among public and private TEIs.
- Review existing policies and recommend new legislation.
- Call upon other government agencies for assistance.
- Maintain list of all TEIs in coordination with CHED.
- Promulgate rules and regulations.

Advisor to the Council (Sec. 9)
- Philippine Normal University shall serve as advisor to the Council by providing research-based recommendations and technical support on teacher education.

Secretariat (Sec. 10)
- A Secretariat is organized to assist the Council, headed by an Executive Director.
- The Secretariat shall initially be composed of Quality Pre-service Teacher Education Office, Quality Teaching Office, and Finance and Administration Office.

Establishment of a Teacher Education Scholarship Program (TESP) (Sec. 11)
- A TESP shall be established for deserving basic education graduates and tertiary level students to pursue undergraduate teacher education degree program in Teacher Education-COEs, implemented by the UniFAST Board.
- Financial assistance under TESP includes free tuition and fees, allowances for books, supplies, research, clothing, accommodation, transportation, thesis/dissertation, licensure examination review and fees, and other miscellaneous allowances.
- Eligibility criteria and conditions for TESP shall be determined by the Council and UniFAST Board.

Student Incentives Support Office (Sec. 12)
- A Student Incentives Support Office shall be established to attract and encourage top students to the teaching profession and establish a scholarship program.
- Functions include developing implementation plan, establishing partnership program with schools for career talks, providing screening guidelines for mentors, and establishing and maintaining the TESP.

Appointments (Sec. 13)
- The Executive Director of the Secretariat shall be appointed by the Council Chairperson for a fixed term of 5 years, with at least 10 years of teaching experience and a master's degree in education or related field.
- The Deputy Executive Director and Directors shall be selected by the Council in accordance with relevant rules and standards.

Policy Implementation Review and Assessment (Sec. 14)
- The DepEd Secretary, CHED Chairperson, and President of the Advisor to the Council shall conduct a comprehensive review and assessment of DepEd and CHED's implementation of teacher education policies every 5 years.

Coordination with Other Government Agencies (Sec. 15)
- The Council shall closely coordinate with DepEd, CHED, PRC, TESDA, NCCA, and UniFAST Board for effective implementation of its powers and functions.

Active Participation of Local Government Units (Sec. 16)
- Local government units shall include the development and improvement of teacher education through the Teacher Education-COEs in their respective regions in their plans, programs, and projects.

Institutionalizing the National Educators' Academy of the Philippines (NEAP) (Sec. 17)
- The NEAP is institutionalized to provide quality professional development programs on teacher education to in-service teachers, school leaders, and other teaching-related personnel in public and private basic education institutions.
- The NEAP shall be a component unit of the DepEd, headed by an Executive Director appointed by the President.

Powers and Functions of the NEAP (Sec. 18)
- Collaborate with the Council to promote coherence between pre-service and in-service education and training.
- Design and implement professional development programs to improve teaching expertise and effective school leadership.
- Coordinate, oversee and monitor the conduct of NEAP-recognized courses, seminars, workshops and other professional development programs.
- Conduct research and evaluation of the effectiveness of professional development programs.
- Ensure equitable access to professional development programs.
- Provide scholarships and fellowships for in-service teachers, school leaders, and other teaching-related personnel in public basic education institutions to pursue advanced studies.
- Ensure effective link between professional development and career progression.
- Strengthen collaboration with learning service providers and other stakeholders.
- Coordinate with PRC for recognition or accreditation of its programs.
- Collaborate with TEIs in the delivery of professional development programs.
- Charge reasonable fees for use of facilities and participation in programs, and receive legacies, gifts, and donations for the NEAP Fund.
- Manage the amount received from DepEd's appropriated budget.
- Exercise other powers and functions necessary to implement the Act.

Creation of New Items and Transitory Provisions (Sec. 19)
- Provides transitory provisions for the appointment of Council members, Executive Director, and organizational structure and staffing pattern of the Secretariat and NEAP within specific timeframes.

Report to Congress (Sec. 20)
- The Council shall submit an annual report to Congress on or before June 15, including the status and progress of teacher education and teacher quality, recommendations for promoting quality education through teacher education, roadmap for teacher education, issues and solutions, and initiatives to improve the professionalization of teaching.
- The first annual report shall be submitted 3 years after the constitution of the Council.

Joint Congressional Oversight Committee (JCOC) on Teacher Education (Sec. 21)
- A JCOC on Teacher Education is created to oversee, monitor, and evaluate the implementation of the Act, composed of 5 members each from the Senate and House of Representatives.

Appropriations (Sec. 22)
- The DepEd Secretary shall immediately include the necessary amount for the effective implementation of the Act in the DepEd's budget.
- On the second year of implementation and thereafter, the Council along with its Secretariat shall have its own budget in the annual General Appropriations Act.
- The budget of the NEAP shall continue to be part of the DepEd's budget.

Implementing Rules and Regulations (Sec. 23)
- Within 60 days after the effectivity of the Act, the DepEd, CHED, TESDA, and PRC shall issue the necessary rules and regulations for its effective implementation, in consultation with relevant stakeholders.

Separability Clause (Sec. 2)
- If any provision or part of the Act is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts not affected shall remain in full force and effect.

Repealing Clause (Sec. 3)
- Republic Act No. 7784 and all other laws, executive orders, presidential decrees, administrative orders, rules and regulations, issuances, or parts thereof inconsistent with or contrary to the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

Effectivity (Sec. 4)
- The Act shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation, notwithstanding the non-issuance of the Implementing Rules and Regulations.