THE HOUSE Committee on Civil Service has approved a suite of landmark measures seeking to modernize the nearly three-decade-old Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994, or Republic Act No. 7836.

Lawmakers said the proposed reforms are crucial to addressing long-standing gaps in teacher preparation, testing, and accountability—areas repeatedly flagged by the Second Congressional Commission on Education as central to improving learning outcomes nationwide.

At the heart of the proposals are higher standards for entering the teaching profession, a stronger regulatory system, and a modernized licensure examination for aspiring educators.

One of the most significant changes approved by the committee is the expansion and restructuring of the Board for Professional Teachers under the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

Under the proposed measures, the Board’s membership will increase from five to seven, with a more diverse set of recommending bodies.

In addition to existing nominators, the Teacher Education Council, Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education, Coordinating Council of Private Educational Associations of the Philippines, Association of Local Colleges and Universities, Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges, and—under some proposals—the Early Childhood Care and Development Council will all be authorized to nominate candidates.

To ensure transparency, the final list of nominees must be published in a newspaper of general circulation and posted on the PRC website.

Government officials or employees appointed to the Board will be seconded to the PRC for the duration of their term, in line with Civil Service rules.

Board members will also be required to hold at least a Master’s degree—and preferably a Doctorate—in Teacher Education or allied fields, with expertise in teacher education programs, test development, and large-scale assessment implementation.

The PRC is also mandated to craft rules preventing conflicts of interest during exam administration and result processing.

The measures call for a refined Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers, including separate tests for Early Childhood Education and Special Needs Education—an effort to reflect the increasingly specialized needs of learners.

To boost public trust in the licensure system, the PRC will be required to release exam questions and corresponding answers within either five days or 48 hours of test administration, depending on the version of the bill.