Average 40% passed teachers' licensure exams from 2010 to 2022, PBEd study shows

Less than half or an average 40% of those who took the licensure examination for professional teachers (LET) have passed the exams over the past 12 years, a study by the advocacy group Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) found.

According to Maki Pulido’s report on “24 Oras” on Friday, the PBEd study also showed that out of the 2,356 teacher education institutions (TEIs) in the country, 56% have passing rates below the 12-year average national passing rate for overall takers.

“This poses the question of quality. If you have thousands of schools offering this program, how can we make sure the CHED actually monitors and assures that these programs are really good, of high quality, and not merely diploma mills?” PBEd Executive Director Justine Raagas said.

It was said that the data indicated shortcomings on the part of the TEIs, which in turn, may also result in the lack of training and skills of the teachers.

“More than half are below it. It poses the question, 'How many are really passing and are qualified to teach and how many are wasting their resources and time in finishing a four-year education?'” PBED Deputy Executive Director Dianne Fajardo Valencia said.

The Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT-Teachers) sees no lack in the quality of Filipino teachers but added most of the exam-takers came from community colleges which suffered from inadequate funding.

“‘Yung kagaya ng treatment ng CHED sa Science and Technology courses dapat ganoon din ang kaniyang treatment sa education courses. Hindi dapat nasa-sideline ito sa funding, focus at support,” ACT-Teachers Secretary-General Raymond Basilio said.

(Just like the treatment of the CHED of Science and Technology courses, it should be the same in the treatment of education courses. It should not be pushed to the sidelines in terms of funding, focus, and support.)

The Department of Education (DepEd) said it acknowledged the lack of training for teachers in elementary and high school and is currently coordinating with the Commission of Education (CHED) for the upskilling of educators.

Short courses and doctorate scholarships are likewise being offered to all teachers for their continuous education, it added.

“We'd like to provide in-service training now at least on the part of DepEd,” DepEd Spokesperson Michael Poa said.

He said he hoped this would produce results immediately.

CHED Commissioner Popoy de Vera said he wanted to read the study before issuing a comment. He asked why many Filipino teachers were teaching abroad if their quality was lacking. —Sundy Locus/NB, GMA Integrated News