SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian is seeking to strengthen the Philippine Normal University by formally declaring it as the country’s national university for teacher education.

Under Senate Bill No. 2125, or the proposed Revised Philippine Normal University Charter Act, Gatchalian said there is a need to strengthen the university’s mandate in advancing research, innovation, professional learning, and institutional capacity development in teacher education.

The senator said the measure is aligned with the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, AmBisyon Natin 2040, and Sustainable Development Goal 4, which all aim to improve the quality and accessibility of education.

Gatchalian emphasized that PNU holds a unique and singular position in the Philippine higher education system as the only institution designated by law as the National Center for Teacher Education.

He also noted that PNU is the only public higher education institution in the country whose academic mandate is exclusively focused on teaching and allied education professions.

According to Gatchalian, the university is uniquely positioned to address challenges in the education sector through its system of specialized campuses aligned with national priorities and regional needs.

These include PNU North Luzon for Indigenous Peoples’ and Multilingual Education, PNU South Luzon for Green Technology and Environmental Education, PNU Visayas for Multicultural and Inclusive Education, PNU Mindanao for Technology and Livelihood Education, and PNU Manila for Comprehensive Teacher Education Specializations.

Gatchalian said strengthening PNU would enable it to better support Teacher Education Institutions nationwide and help develop competent and highly qualified teachers across various subject areas.