THE SENATE has approved on third and final reading a bill that will improve the quality of teacher education and training in the country.

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, the principal author and sponsor of the measure, said the approval is a big step in addressing the education crisis.

Senate Bill 2152 or the Teacher Education Excellence Act amends Republic Act 7784 to strengthen the Teacher Education Council created in 1993.

“Hindi natin maiaangat ang kalidad ng edukasyon ng ating mga kabataan kung wala ring dekalidad na pagsasanay at edukasyon ang ating mga guro. Ang mga guro ay ang mga frontliners natin sa pagsugpo sa krisis ng edukasyon kaya dapat tiyakin na mula sa kolehiyo hanggang sa pagtuturo, sila ay handa at may sapat na kakayahan,” Gatchalian said.

The measure seeks to make the TEC a responsive coordinating body for the Commission on Higher Education, the Professional Regulation Commission and the Department of Education, the main government entities involved in teacher education.

The revamped TEC will establish a roadmap for teacher education and it will also mandate, monitor, and quality assure compliance with minimum requirements for teacher education programs.

This is to ensure a strong and transparent link between the outcomes of teacher programs, the professional standards for teachers, research, and international best practice.

It will also realign the pre-service and in-service education to improve the quality of teachers and at the same time improve the quality of education received by Filipino students.