We should have more decisions, and Department Secretaries, like this!

We should have more decisions, and Department Secretaries, like this!
Three aggrieved teachers in Visayas vindicated by CHED’s decision

Working for more than 20 years in the high school department, three teachers of a Visayas university had the shock of their teaching lives when they received on June 15, 2010 a memo reassigning them to teach in the college department of the university, effective June 17, 2010.

The university contended that the three teachers do not have the qualification to teach in high school because their bachelor’s degree is not in education although all of them have (1) passed the Licensure Examination for Teachers, (2) master’s degrees in education and (3) 20 years of teaching experience and professional training. The management further insisted that they will teach in the college department according to their line of specialization.

These teachers who were previously enjoying teaching loads of 30 units in the high school department would now have to contend with measly 18 units in the college department. Their positions in high school were filled up by probationary teachers.

One of the aggrieved teachers, a graduate of B.S. in Community Nutrition is now teaching Society and Culture, Principles of Business Management and Tourism subjects. Talking about re-alignment!

The matter is now a subject of an ongoing labor dispute at the university.

At the request of an affiliate, TUCP requested CHED’s advice on teaching requirements and standards for teachers in high school.

In CHED’s letter dated October 20, 2010, Chairperson Patricia Licuanan clarifies that:

1.    Article III, Section 13 if the Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994, “A valid certificate of registration and a valid professional license from the Commission (Philippine Regulations Commission) are required before any person is allowed to practice as a professional teacher in the Philippines…”

2.    Under paragraph 3 of Section 15 © of the same Republic Act, one of the qualification requirements of applicants prior to admission to take the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) is:

“For teachers in the secondary grades, a bachelor’s degree  in education or its equivalent with a major or minor, or a bachelor’s degree in arts and sciences with at least ten (10) units in professional education;”

3.    Section 8 of Article III of CHED Memorandum Order 52, s.2007, otherwise known as Addendum to CMO 30, series of 2004 entitled “Revised Policies and Standards for Undergraduate Teacher Education Curriculum” states that:

“Section 8. In compliance with the Republic Act 7836 (The LET Law) and with Article II of CMO 30, s.2004, graduates of non-education degrees shall take 18 units of professional education courses, and 12 units of experiential learning courses (Field Study and Practice Teaching) to qualify the Licensure Examination for Teachers.”

“Based on the above, it is the position of this Commission that the concerned teachers are qualified to teach in the secondary level and in view of this, there is no longer any impediment for the teachers to be re-assigned back to teach in the high school branch of xxx.”

There are maybe more teachers, both in public and private schools, in similar situations. However, as long as we have agencies and government officials rendering timely, equitable, appropriate, and proper decisions, workers and their organizations would be confident that their issues will be addressed correctly.