SENATOR Juan Edgardo Angara pushed a program that aims to produce the best teachers for the public school system to improve the quality of education and the learning outcomes of students.

“The quality of education is closely linked to the competency of the teachers. If we want to produce the best students then we should start by providing them with the best teachers,” Angara said.

He filed Senate Bill 2312 that will establish a Teacher Education for Achievers Program or TEACH to ensure that future educators are ready to help improve learning outcomes.

The program seeks to attract the brightest aspiring teachers by providing them with incentives such as full scholarships and a guaranteed job upon graduation.

“Apart from the grant of incentives, the TEACH program will also guarantee that our future teachers will receive the best education and training from our partner Teacher Education Institutions,” Angara said.

The TEACH program offers two tracks: a certificate in teaching program for graduates of any bachelor’s degree other than education, and an undergraduate level  for incoming third year college students.

Grantees may choose from any of the following degrees: early childhood education; special education; elementary education; secondary education; chemistry, mathematics, physics, and biology for teachers; a certificate in teaching program or its equivalent; and similar degrees as may be approved by the Department of Education.

Applicants must pass the selection process, the aptitude test for teachers and the appropriate examination and assessment.

Qualified applicants will receive full tuition and books, supplies, equipment, clothing, and transportation allowances.

They will also get annual medical and accident insurance and related health reimbursements, monthly living allowance, and professional teachers board review and licensure fees.

In exchange for their scholarships, the graduates of the program will be required to teach full time in primary or secondary schools for at least one year for each year of scholarship.

“We want to produce more quality teachers in our public school system in order to address the deficiencies found in our primary school students so that they will have better opportunities available to them later on in life,” Angara said.