GEaring Up: Regional Teacher Education Virtual Conference
22 October 2021, 8:30AM
The Commission on Higher Education Regional Office III (CHEDRO-III), in partnership with the Department of Education Regional Office III (DepEd-ROIII), successfully conducted the Gearing Up: Central Luzon Teacher Education Virtual Conference on 22 October 2021 with the theme of “Forging Strong Collaboration in Addressing the Challenges of the 21st Century Basic and Teacher Education Programs.” The objectives of the conference are to address issues and concerns in teacher education programs; to forge stronger collaborations among CHED, DepEd, and Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs); and to harmonize the actions of CHED and DepEd related to strengthening teacher education programs in the region.
CHEDRO-III Officer-in-Charge, Office of the Director IV, Dr. Maria Teresita M. Semana, in her opening message, recognized the synergy and the complementary role of CHED and DepEd and how these two government agencies have always been proactive partners in the education sector. On behalf of Secretary Leonor M. Briones of DepEd, Undersecretary Diosdado M. San Antonio emphasized that the collaborative initiatives of the government agencies involved will further strengthen the Teacher Education programs in Region III making them more effective and relevant to the needs of the primary employers of Teacher Education graduates. While Commissioner Aldrin A. Darilag of CHED and the Oversight Commissioner for Teacher Education discussed the scenarios on how the teaching mode changed and adapted to the new normal situations and enlightened everyone on the current state of Philippine education.
Dr. Edizon A. Fermin, Vice President for Academic Affairs of the National Teachers College, inspired everyone with his talk on “The New Perspectives of the 21st Century Teacher under the New Normal”. Meanwhile, the issues and challenges in Basic Education with implications on Teacher Education Programs were discussed by Dr. Ronnie S. Mallari, Officer-in-Charge, Schools Division Superintendent, DepEd Balanga City.
Four (4) breakout sessions were created to provide the groups opportunities to discuss and identify the plans of action in addressing concerns/issues on: • Unfilled items for Guidance and Counselling services due to the limited number of qualified guidance counselors; • The lack of competencies noted among Teacher Education graduates; • Harmonization of the implementation of practice teaching among Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) in the Region; and • The alignment of specializations for the MAED program to the needs of basic education teachers.
Dr. Efren F. Abulencia of CHEDRO-III and the focal person for the Teacher Education provided the synthesis and the moving forward activities stating that it is only the beginning and there will be more to come to address the issues and concerns of Teacher Education in the Region. Assistant Regional Director Rhoda T. Razon of DepEd RO-III closed the conference and expressed her appreciation to the participants and agencies who made the event a success.
