Specialized licensure tests for teachers lauded

EDUCATION Secretary Sonny Angara said an updated teacher education curriculum, coupled with specialized licensure examinations, would enhance the quality of education in the country.

Commission on Higher Education Chairman Prospero de Vera III and Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Chairman Charito Zamora have signed a joint memorandum circular that would introduce specialized licensure examinations for specific degree programs in teacher education, such as Bachelor of Early Childhood Education, Bachelor of Special Needs Education, Bachelor of Technical-Vocational Teacher Education, Bachelor of Physical Education, and Bachelor of Culture and Arts Education.

The measure aims to ensure that graduates will be assessed based on the competencies they have developed in their chosen specialization.

"Our schools are only as good as our teachers. They are the heart and soul of our system. It is up to us to ensure that our learners get the very best quality of teaching. With this agreement, we are taking concrete steps toward building a better quality of education for the country," Angara said in a statement on Saturday.

The initiative aims to address long-standing shortages in specialized learning areas, allowing the Department of Education to recruit teachers whose licenses and skills match the demand in public schools.

"This joint memorandum circular has the potential of addressing drawbacks in teacher supply, particularly in early childhood education and technical-vocational education in senior high schools, as graduates will be encouraged to take these programs in our teacher education institutions," Teacher Education Council Executive Director Jennie Jocson said.

The PRC said the implementation of the new tracks would begin in the September 2025 licensure examination cycle.