CHAPTER 5: TEACHERS’ RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES, OBLIGATIONS, AND

ACCOUNTABILITIES

DEFINITION OF “TEACHER” ACCORDING TO EDUCATIONAL LAWS

1. Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers (R.A. No. 7836) - “Teacher” shall include industrial arts or
vocational teachers and others performing supervisory functions in all schools.
2. Magna Carta for Public School Teachers (R.A. No. 4670) - “Teacher” shall mean all persons
engaged in classroom teaching operated by the Government, but shall not include school nurses,
physicians, dentists and other school employees.
3. Preamble of the R.A. No. 7836 - “Teacher” is a duly licensed professional that possesses dignity and
reputation with high moral values.
4. R.A. No. 7836 - “Teacher” refers to all persons engaged in teaching at the elementary and secondary
levels.

THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF FILIPINO TEACHERS -

These are listed and defined in the following:
● Education Act of 1982
● Magna Carta for Public School Teachers
● Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers

RIGHTS
- Are actions that individual’s discharge to maintain harmonious relationships between and among
themselves.
- This is both a claim and a duty.

SPECIAL RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES

- provided in Education Act of 1982 or Batas Pambansa Blg. 232
● Freedom from compulsory assignments
● Right to their intellectual property
● Right to be treated as persons with authority
● Right to choose alternative career lines

TEACHERS AS “PERSONS IN AUTHORITY”

- “By legal fiction” provided by the Commonwealth Act 578 duly amended by Art. 512 of the Revised
Penal Code, teachers become persons in authority.

PERSONS IN AUTHORITY PROTECTION

- Any act of hurting a teacher physically is not just a plain physical injury but a direct assault to a person
in authority, and that is punishable of prison correctional (up to 6 years imprisonment).

LIABILITIES OF PERSONS IN AUTHORITY

- As Art. 512 elevates the status, dignity, and honor of teachers as persons in authority, they are
considered liable for seduction.
- SEDUCTION is having carnal knowledge of virgin over 12 years and under 18 years of age whose
education has been entrusted to a teacher.
 ● QUALIFIED SEDUCTION - punishable by prison correctional (6 months and 1 day to 4 years and 2
months imprisonment)
● SIMPLE SEDUCTION - punishable by arresto mayor (1 to 6 months imprisonment)

LIMITS OF THE POWER

● When the teacher goes out of his classroom to talk to a person on matters not related to the school or
his duties,
● When on these occasions, a person assaults him, and
● When he is not engaged in the performance of his official duties as a teacher and when on such
occasion, a person assaults him too.

OTHER RIGHTS OF TEACHERS

1. No Discrimination
- It is to provide equal protection and treatment to teachers in the teaching profession.
2. Employment of married teachers under the same locality - It is part of the state’s assurance to protect
the Filipino family.
3. Enjoyment of academic freedom
- It protects the freedom of professors in public and private tertiary education to make decisions
that will lead to a more quality learning.
4. Reasonable Teaching Hours
- It is provided that teachers shall render 8 hours in the duty (6 hours in teaching and 2 hours for
the preparation of activities and exercises).
5. Additional compensation
- any teacher shall be paid additional compensation for at least 25% of the regular renumeration.
6. Equality in salary scales
- Teachers must be treated same way in salary scales same with other professions.
7. Cost of living allowance
- this is to give consideration in loss of purchasing power of teachers’ salary due to inflation.
8. Deductions prohibited
- Income Tax
- GSIS/SSS (for private schools)
- HDMF
- PhilHealth
9. Medical examination and treatment
- to assure that the teachers are physically and mentally fit to perform their duties.
10. Compensation for injuries
- Permanent Total Disability
- Permanent Partial Disability
- Temporary Total Disability
11. Study leave
- 1 year study leave given for those in 7 years’ service.
12. Indefinite leave
- time given to recover from injury or sickness.
13. Freedom to organize
- teachers have the right to form unions, organizations, or societies not contrary to law.
14. Prohibition of discrimination against teachers
 - to prevent unbias or unequal treatment among teachers
15. Join or establish labor unions or organizations
- this is to practice freedom of expression and right of assembly.
16. Engage in business
- teachers have the right to have personal business as long as not affecting the learning of the
students.
17. Safeguards in disciplinary procedures
- it is for the teachers to know and be aware of the accusations against them.

OTHER BENEFITS AND PRIVILEGES OF TEACHERS

1. Monetary Benefits - cash or benefits given to improve their welfare.
2. The Special Hardship Allowance - incentives given to teachers teaching in dangerous areas.
3. The Productivity Incentive - monetary benefit given to teachers at the end of every year.
4. Cash Allowance to Teachers - money given for the purchase of school supplies and materials in
teaching.
5. Year-end Bonus and Cash Gift - includes the 13th month pay (on or before May 31) and 14th month
pay (on or before November 30).
6. Regular Leave Privileges - includes leave of absence, maternity and paternity leave, teacher’s leave,
and special leave privileges.
7. Sick and Vacation Leave Credits - these are 15 days vacation and 15 days sick leave every year but
only given to teachers who render work during the prescribed hours and do not enjoy summer vacation.
8. Special Leave Privileges - these refer to other privileges such as funeral/mourning leave, graduation
leave, and other special celebration of the family and closest relatives.
9. Maternity Leave - given to married, pregnant women who are teaching for at least 2 years, and this is
equivalent to 105 days with full pay but only 60 days will be given in case of miscarriage, and additional
15 days for single parents.
10. Paternity Leave - 7 days given for men for the first 4 children regardless of whoever is the legal wife.
11. Step Increment - a salary increase that will be granted if they have not been promoted in the position
for past three years.
12. Provident Fund - it is provided by the GSIS.
13. Shelter Program for Teachers - provides a decent and affordable housing.
14. Automatic Upgrading of Positions - eligible public school teachers are given this through Equivalent
Records Form (ERFs) Scheme.
15. Productivity Based Bonus (PBB) and Productivity Enhancement Incentive (PEI) PBB is a top-up
given upon realization of DepEd and schools’ overall commitments, while the PEI is given to improve
their productivity as worker of the government.

OBLIGATIONS OF TEACHERS
- listed under the Section 16 of Education Act of 1982
1. Perform his duties to the school by discharging his responsibilities in accordance witn the
philosophy, goals, and objectives of the school.
2. Be accountable for the efficient and effective attainment of specified learning objectives in
pursuance of national development goals within the limits of available school resources.
3. Render regular reports on performance of each learner and to the latter and the latter's parents
or guardians with specific suggestions for improvement.
 4. Assume responsibility to maintain and sustain his professional growth and advancement and
maintain professionalism in his behavior at all times.
5. Refrain from making deductions in learner's scholastic ratings for acts that are clearly not
manifestations of poor scholarship.
6. Participate as an agent of constructive social, economic, moral, intellectual, cultural, and
political change in his school and the community within the context of national policies.

THE CODE OF ETHICS FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS

COVERAGE
- it covers all the public and private school teachers in all educational institutions at the pre-school,
primary, elementary, and secondary levels whether academic, vocational, special, technical or non-
formal.

PURPOSE
1. To motivate teachers to uphold the honor and dignity of the teaching profession.
2. To determine teh ethical responsibilities and commitments of teachers in the teaching profession.
3. To guide ethical decisions and actions of teachers in the teaching profession.
4. To promote public trust and confidence in the teaching profession.

FOR HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS (HEIs)

- every public and private higher education institution has the right to created their own Code of Ethics
for their faculty members but this must still be consistent and related to the Code of Ethics for
Professional Teachers in the country.

ACCOUNTABILITY
is always associated with the terms answerability, liability, transparency and other words related to
expectations or to the account of giving.

TEACHER ACCOUNTABILITY
refers to the acceptance of responsibility to accomplish a certain duty or one's teaching profession obligation.

ACCOUNTABILITIES OF FILIPINO TEACHERS

1. To the State
2. To the community
3. To their profession
4. To the community of teaching
5. To higher authorities
6. To the learners
7. To the parents
8. To the business
9. To themselves as persons

SANCTIONS FOR VIOLATIONS OF CODE OF ETHICS FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS

● revocation of his Certificate of Registration and License as a Professional Teacher
● suspension from the practice of teaching profession
 ● reprimand or cancellation of his temporary/special permit under causes specified in Sec. 23, Article 3 or
R.A. No. 7836.

CODE OF CONDUCT AND ETHICAL STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND

EMPLOYEES
- otherwise known as the R.A. No. 6713
1. Commitment to public interest
- they shall always uphold the public interest over and above personal interest.
2. Professionalism
- they shall perform their duties with the highest degree of excellence, professionalism,
intelligence, and skill.
3. Justness and sincerity
- they shall be true to people at all times.

4. Political neutrality
- they shall provide service to everyone without unfair discrimination and regardless of
party affiliation or preference.
5. Responsiveness to the public
- they shall extend prompt, courteous, and adequate service to the public.
6. Nationalism and patriotism
- they shall at all times be loyal to the Republic and to the Filipino people, promote the
use of locally produced goods, resources and technology and encourage appreciation
and pride of country and people.
7. Commitment to democracy
- they shall commit themselves to the democratic way of life and values, maintain the
principle of public accountability, and manifest by deeds the supremacy of civilian
authority over the military.
8. Simple living
- they shall lead modest lives appropriate to their positions and income.

CHAPTER 6: LEGAL BASES OF EDUCATION AND THE PROFESSIONALIZATION OF TEACHING

Educational Provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution

Primary Legal Basis of Philippine Education

- The 1987 Philippine Constitution lays the basic legal framework of the Philippine
education and profession. It provides the direction of education and sets the guidelines
to which all laws along education and the teaching profession is crafted in the country.
For this reason, the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher
Education (CHED), and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) pursue
the mandate embodied in the 1987 Philippine Constitution.

Provisions on Education of the 1987 Philippine Constitution

- The 1987 Philippine Constitution provides clear and direct provisions along education as
compared to the previous constitution of the country.
 - Education is protected and guaranteed in the three (3) articles making it an education
centered constitution. These articles are as follows:
● Article 11 - Declaration of Policies of the State
● Article 14 – Education, Science and Technology, Arts, Culture, and Sports
● Article 15 – The Family

Education as a Primary Responsibility of the State

- In the Philippines, education is primarily a state function. Public kindergarten, elementary, and
secondary education are supported and financed by the national government.

Goals in Giving Priority to Education

● To foster patriotism and nationalism
● To accelerate social progress
● To promote total human liberation and development
Quality Education
- is a common byword of everyone but it is one of the most misunderstood terms it also has multiple
meanings and consequently it has been used in different ways.

5 Dimensions of Quality Education according to Harvey (1995)

● Quality Education as exceptionality

● Quality Education as consistency
● Quality Education as fitness-for-purpose
● Quality Education as value for money
● Quality Education as transformative potential

Access to Education
- means making education available to everyone.
- It can also mean providing affordable education that is within the reach of the poorest members of the
society.

Education as a Birth Right

- The state recognizes that education is a birth right. The right is inherent to every human being and it is
as essential as the need for food, clothing, and shelter.
- It has to be stressed that the constitution does not only guarantee right to education but the right of all
citizens to quality education at all levels, i.e., elementary, secondary, and tertiary.

Protection of the Right of Citizens to Quality Education

- The protection and promotion of quality education are the government's answer to the criticism
regarding the elitist character of education in the country.
- the government offers scholarship programs and maintains free education, at least up to the high
school level. In this way, the underprivileged, marginalized, and voiceless members of the society
are able to access education.
 - Alternative Learning System (ALS), Indigenous Peoples Education (IPEd), and Madaris are good
examples of bringing education at the door step of the Out of School Youth (OSY), indigenous groups,
and the Muslims, respectively.

Relationship between Public and Private Institutions in the Philippines

- The private and public institutions are not competitors. Private schools are rather partners of the state in
ensuring that the Filipino citizens obtain the desired knowledge, skills, and values essential for their
well-being.
- The public and private institutions have complementary roles. This complementary role springs from the
same functions they perform in the society, that is, they both give educational service to the Filipino
people.

Complete, Adequate, and Integrated System of Education

Complete education
- means providing a system of education from pre-school to graduate education.

Adequate education
- connotes affording sufficient system of education that equips Filipino learners with essential knowledge,
skills, and values necessary in developing themselves and in contributing to national development.

Integrated education
- means the use of an interdisciplinary approach in teaching to allow the holistic development of every
learner.

As mandated by the Constitution, the curriculum of the school has to help the learners grow and develop:
● personally
● professionally
● physically
● intellectually
● economically
● politically
● socially
● morally
● culturally

System of Education Relevant to Societal Needs

- The constitution's mandate of maintaining, establishing, and supporting a system of education is
relevant to the needs of the people and society, is very categorical.
- Having relevant education implies establishing an educational system that responds to several national
problems such as unemployment, poverty, drug addiction, graft and corruption.

Access to Elementary, Secondary, and Tertiary Education

- The Constitution distinguishes access to education in the elementary and secondary level.
- In the elementary level, education is free and compulsory.
- Education in the secondary level is free but not compulsory.
- In the tertiary level, the passage of R.A. No. 10931 otherwise known as “Universal Access to Quality
Tertiary Education Act" allows the government to provide free tuition and over lees in State
 Universities and Colleges (SUCS), Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) and state-run
Technical Vocational Institutions.

According to Fr. Joaquin Bernas (2002) the term 'compulsory' was intended by the Constitutional
Commission to mean a moral and not a legal compulsion (with civil and
criminal sanctions).”

Financial Subsidies and Incentives from the State

- Financial subsidies and incentives are granted to deserving and underprivileged learners in both public
and private schools.
- Education for All (EFA) provides that even the poor, underprivileged, and underserved members of
the society have the right to educational access because this is vital in determining their chances to
avail of economic, social, and political opportunities in the society.
- To afford the poor learners access to private education, the government has provided programs like (a)
Government Assistance to Teachers & Learners in Private Education (GATSPE); (b) Education
Service Contracting (ESC) and; Education Voucher System (EVS).

Learning Systems in the Philippines

- Formal education refers to the hierarchically structured and chronologically graded learning organized
and provided by the formal school system and for which certification is required in order for the learner
to progress through the grades or move to higher levels.

Levels of Formal Education

1. elementary education
2. secondary education
3. tertiary education

Non-formal education, Informal education and Indigenous learning system

1. Non-formal education is any organized school based educational activities undertaken by the Ministry
of Education, Culture and Sports (now DepEd) and other agencies aimed at attaining specific learning
objectives for a particular clientele, especially the illiterates and the out-of-school youth and adults,
distinct from and outside the regular offerings of the formal school system.”
2. Informal education is any learning that takes place anywhere and it happens incidentally like those
obtained from the print and broadcast media, church, home, and other community institutions.
3. Indigenous learning system refers to culturally established ways and methods of cultural communities
with the goal of preserving and building tradition.

Mandatory Study of the Philippine Constitution

- Educational institutions shall include the study of the Constitution as part of the curricula.
- The intent of the provision is to make all citizens of the country become aware of the provisions of the
fundamental law and the principles it upholds.

Other Constitutional Mandates as part of the Curricula

1. Inculcate patriotism and nationalism
2. Foster love of humanity, respect for human rights, and appreciate the role of national heroes in the
historical development of our country
3. Teach the rights and duties of citizenship
4. Strengthen ethical and spiritual values
5. Develop moral character and personal discipline
 6. Encourage critical and creative thinking
7. Broaden scientific and technological knowledge
8. Promote vocational efficiency

Substandard Schools
- police power is the power of the state to close private schools that are inimical to public health, justice,
safety, order, security, horace and welfare of the citizens.
Filipino Citizens' Ownership and Management of Educational Institutions
- The 1987 Philippine Constitution specifies that the general ruling for the ownership as well as control
and administration of educational institutions in the Philippines is that at least 60% of the capital is
owned by the Filipinos. Irrespective whether the school is established by religious groups and mission
groups, this rule must be followed.
- In short, the aspects of education that are Filipinized are:

(a) ownership;

(b) control and administration;

(c) learner population.

Exemptions from Taxes and Duties

- As a rule, all public and private educational institutions are exempted from paying realty tax and tax
exemptions to all grants, endowments, donations, and contributions.
- The reason is that these schools help the government in providing education to its citizens which is its
principal responsibility.

Academic Freedom

1. Academic freedom is the freedom of the teacher or research worker in higher institutions of learning to
investigate and discuss the problems of sciences and to express opinions or his conclusions whether
through publication or the instruction of learners, without interference from political or ecclesiastical
authorities, unless his methods are found by qualified bodies of his own profession to be clearly
incompetent or contrary to professional ethics. - Prof. Arthur Lovejoy

2. Academic freedom refers to the right of the teacher to teach the subject of his specialization according
to his best lights; to hold on other subjects, to engage in outside activities, and to express his opinions
on public questions in a manner that shall not interfere with his duties as a member of the faculty. - Dr.
Carlos P. Romulo

3. Society must always remember that man is most free if he is given the freedom of the mind. Criticism
purifies truth. As practiced in the schools of higher learning, this means academic freedom. Reason is
the final justification for a plea for academic freedom. - Mr. Pascual Capiz

4. Academic freedom is the right to determine what to teach and how to teach in accordance with
accepted and procedures not inimical to the declared laws and policies of the State. - 1987 Philippine
Constitution

Academic Freedom Guaranteed and Protected by the Constitution

Academic freedom is not enjoyed in the basic education (elementary and secondary levels) for two reasons:
1. elementary and secondary schools cannot determine "who to teach”, “what to teach" and
"how to teach" because all these decisions are prescribed by the Department of
 Education.
2. the grant of academic freedom is limited to schools of higher learning because unlike in basic
education, there is a high level of specialization in tertiary education.

Highest Budgetary Priority to Education

- The constitutional provision of assigning the highest budgetary priority to education must not be
interpreted as absolute because the Congress can make re-appropriations in times of emergency.
Legal Basis of Language Teaching in the Philippines
- Subject to the provisions of law and as the Congress may deem appropriate, the Government shall take
steps to initiate and sustain the use of Filipino as a medium of official communication and as language
of instruction in the educational system.

Language
- A language is considered to be a system of communicating with other people using sounds, symbols,
and words in expressing a meaning, idea or thought. The purpose of language learning is
communication or to master communication skills.
- Language is studied as a subject to develop cultural awareness.
- the official language of the Philippines are Filipino and until otherwise provided by law, English

Difference of National Language and Official Language - The

national language of the Philippines is Filipino.
- National language means that it is something spoken in the country and it shall represent or it shall be
expressive of the culture, and heritage of the entire Filipinos across the Philippine archipelago.
- Official language can be a foreign language but it can be used for communicating in both oral and
written forms.
- By origin, the Pilipino mainly uses Tagalog and this causes issues with the Cebuano, llonggo, Ilocano,
and other major languages in the country.

Official Languages in Philippine Schools

- According to Fr. Joaquin G. Bernas (2002) official language means the prescribed medium of
communication for all official acts or transactions with the various departments and agencies of the
government.
- The three official languages of the Philippines are Filipino, English, and Spanish.
- Spanish as official language because there are important documents in the government files that are in
Spanish language which were not translated to either English or Filipino language.
- Auxiliary media means that it shall be used as a supplementary and supporting languages for better
understanding and emphasis in communication.
- Spanish and Arabic shall be promoted on a voluntary basis. The consideration is attributed to the fact
that Filipinos have strong historical and cultural ties with the Arabs and Spaniards.

Special Parental Authority

- is the act of providing reasonable care and supervision over learners of minor age under the custody of
the teachers and school administrators.
- According to Jose Nolledo (1995), the exercise of special parental authority of teachers and school
administrators covers minors who are actually in schools (or in classrooms) or outside the premises
thereof as long as they have not gone home.

"Loco Parentis" Principle

- it is enjoyed by teachers over their minor learners is the legal basis for disciplining them.
 - Such principle is a legal description of the expected professional relationship between teachers and
their learners.
- According to Oxford Dictionary of Law (1997), the principle is derived from English law where the
notes in loco parentis means “in place of a parent" and observes that
the term is “used loosely to describe anyone looking after children on behalf of the parents, e.g. foster
parents or relatives

Vicarious Liability
- According to Priciliano Bauzon (2006), the liability of school administrators and teachers is called
vicarious liability or liability from imputed negligence.

Laws on the Professionalization of Teaching

- The enactment of these legislations proves that the state indeed recognizes the role of teachers in
human resource development and nation building.

1. Presidential Decree 1006

- “Providing for the professionalization of teachers, regulating their practice in the Philippines and
for other purposes.”
- guarantees that “teacher education shall be given primary concerns and attention by the
government and shall be of the highest quality, and strongly oriented to Philippine conditions
and to the needs and aspirations of the Filipino people even as it seeks enrichment from
adaptable ideas and practices of other people.”

● Passing the Board Examination

- P.D. No. 1006 grants that “In order that a candidate may be deemed to have
successfully passed the examinations, he must have obtained a general average of at
least 75 percent in all subjects with no rating below 70 percent in any subject."
- “The examiners shall report the ratings obtained by each candidate to the Board within
150 days after the last day of the examination, unless extended by the latter."

2. Republic Act No. 7836

- is the “Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994”.

● The Board for Professional Teachers and its Composition

- The Board for Professional Teachers is a collegial body under the general
supervision and administrative control of the Professional Regulation
Commission.

● Term of Office of the Members of the Board

- "the members of the Board shall hold office for a term of three (3) years from the
date they assume office: Provided, That the first appointees to the Board under
this Act shall hold office according to the following terms: One (1) member shall
serve for one (1) year; One (1) member for two (2) years: the chairman, vice
chairman and one (1) member for three (3) years.

How is the compensation of the Board computed?

- Section 9 of the Act provides that "the chairman, vice-chairman and members of
the board shall receive compensation comparable to the compensation received
 by existing regulatory boards under the Professional Regulation Commission,
computed on the basis of the number of examinees/candidates.

● Grounds for the Removal of a Member of the Board

- “The chairman or any member of the Board may be removed by the President of the Philippines
upon recommendation of the Commission for neglect of duty, incompetence, unprofessional,
unethical, immoral or dishonorable conduct, commission or toleration of irregularities in the
examination, after having been given the opportunity to defend himself in proper administrative
investigation. In the course of investigation, the President may preventively suspend the
respondent.”

● Administration of the Board Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (BLEPT)

- R.A. No. 7836 lays down that "except as otherwise specially allowed under the provisions of this
Act, all applicants for registration as professional teachers shall be required to undergo a written
examination which shall be given at least once a year in such places and dates as the Board
may determine upon approval by the Commission.”

● Primary Requirements to Become a Professional Teacher

- R.A. No. 7836 stipulates that "a valid certificate or registration and a valid professional license
from the Commission are required before any person is allowed to practice as a professional
teacher in the Philippines, except as otherwise allowed under this Act."

● Scope of Examination of BEEd and BSEd Graduates -

Elementary: professional education and general education.
Secondary level: professional education, general education, and field of specialization."

● Certificate of Registration and Professional License

- the registration of a professional teacher commences from the date his name is enrolled in a
roster of professional teachers.
- Every registrant shall be required to take his professional oath before practicing as a
professional teacher.

● Validity of the Professional License

- R.A. No. 7836 spells out that the validity of the license is three (3) years.

● Registration by Reciprocity
- As a general rule, registration by reciprocity is not allowed.
- R.A. No. 7836 provides that "No teacher of Foreign nationality shall be admitted to the
examination, or be given a certificate of registration or to be entitled to any of the rights and
privileges under this act, unless the country or state of which he is subject permits Filipino
professional teachers to practice within its territorial limits on the same basis as subject or
citizens of said country or state.

3. Republic Act No. 7784

- Strengthening Teacher Education in the Philippines
- As stated in its Declaration of Policy, the law declares that the country's vision is “a teacher
education system whose mission is to educate and train teachers of unquestionable integrity
and competence, and who are committed to their continuing professional growth and obligation
to help their learners grow as responsible individuals and citizens of the Philippines and of the
world."
● Definition of Teacher Education, Excellence, and Center of Excellence
 - “Teacher Education” shall mean the pre-service education, in-service education, and graduate
education of teachers, in various areas of specialization.
- “Excellence" pertains to the efficient, effective and innovative delivery of relevant, functional,
and quality programs in teacher education, training, research and community service.
- "Center of Excellence" shall be a public or private college, institute, school or agency,
engaged in the pre-service and continuing education, formal and non-formal, of teachers and
teacher educators, that has established and continues to maintain a track record in teacher
education.

● Enjoyment of Privileges as Center of Excellence

- R.A. No. 7784 lays down that “Any center of excellence that is established shall be mama at
least five (5) years before any proposal or review is made to transfer it elsewhere.

● Composition of the Teacher Education Council (TEC)

- R.A. No. 7784 spells out that “the DepEd's Teacher Education Council (TEC) has the general
task of developing teacher education policies and standards that improve pre-service training of
teachers in the country. The council builds a strong connection and collaboration between
DepEd and CHED along this
focus."

4. Republic Act No. 9293 Amendment of R.A. No. 7836

- Republic Act No. 9293 is known as Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994.

● Requirements for Registration to Become a Professional Teacher

- Section 26 of R.A. No. 7836 provides that "No person shall engage in teaching and/or act as a
professional teacher as defined in this Act, whether in the preschool, elementary or secondary
level, unless the person is a duly registered professional teacher, and a holder of a valid
certificate of registration and a valid professional license or a holder of a valid special/temporary
permit."

● Refresher Course for Non-Practitioners

- R.A. No. 9293 imposes that “Professional teachers who have not practiced their profession for the
past five (5) years shall take a refresher course of at least twelve (12) units of education
courses, consisting of at least six (6) units of pedagogy and six (6) units of content courses,
or the equivalent training and number of hours, to be chosen from a list of courses to be
provided by the Board and the Department of Education, before they can be allowed to practice
their profession in the country.”

● Issuance of Special Permits to Non-BLEPT Passers

- Republic Act No. 9293 lays down that “Those who have failed the licensure examination for
professional teachers, with a rating of not lower than five percentage points from the passing
general average rating, shall be eligible as para-teachers upon issuance by the Board of a two-
year special permit, renewable for a non-extendible period of two (2) years.
- The same Act specifies that “special permits, with a validity of three (3) and five (5) years,
issued to para-teachers by the Board for Professional Teachers before the effectivity of this Act
shall be allowed to expire based on the period granted therein: Provided, That only special
permits with a validity of three (3) years may be renewed upon expiration for a non-
extendible period of two (2) years.