THE Senate Committee on Finance has approved Sen. Edgardo Angara’s proposal for scholarships for teacher educators belonging to all normal schools and universities, collectively known as 3Ns, or the National Network of Normal Schools in the Philippines.
The group was convened by the Philippine Normal University (PNU) being the National Center for Teacher Education in the country. It is composed of Mariano Marcos, West Visayas, Bukidnon, Palawan, Bicol, Western Mindanao and Pangasinan state universities and the normal universities of Leyte and Cebu.
“This is a huge development in terms of improving the quality of education in the country. We should continuously strive to improve the competency of our talented educators who will implement our curricular reforms,” said Angara, chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Arts and Culture, as well as vice chairman of the Committee on Finance.
In his proposal, Angara emphasized that increasing support for teacher educators and trainors is critical in the implementation of the K-to-12 reform of basic education, and the necessity to benchmark with international standards for teaching excellence.
The members of the said group have earlier committed to proactively work with the Department of Education (DepEd) in providing training and workshops to teachers for the coming transition to K-to-12 by 2016.
“Through this partnership with the 3Ns, we will adequately prepare Filipino teachers for the challenges of 21st century learning and allow them to be on a par with the best teachers in the world,” said Angara, a former president of the University of the Philippines.
While the proposal has passed the Senate committee, it will still require the support and approval of President Aquino. If approved, the funding, through the Commission on Higher Education, will enhance the access of teacher educators from the normal schools and universities to postgraduate studies.
“I hope the Aquino administration finds equal merit in this partnership, and sustains it in the coming years,” said Angara.
