THE MINISTRY of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education said that teachers in Islamic schools can hold permanent positions once they pass the ministry’s special eligibility examinations.

MBHTE Minister Mohagher Iqbal said this is one of the salient provisions of the Bangsamoro Education Code.

Section 104 of the BEC gives MBHTE the authority to develop and administer special qualifying examinations for the permanent appointment of teachers.

“This is a test of autonomy given to the BARMM, na on the issue ng Mudarris (Islamic Teacher), puwede na tayo mag-decide on our own. Consultation with the Civil Service Commission revealed the possibility of granting of special eligibility for as long as there is a law or legal basis allowing it, thus the provision on the BEC,” Iqbal said.

“In coordination with the CSC for BARMM, the MBHTE shall grant special licenses to those who passed the exam, provided that the granted eligibility shall only qualify the appointee to permanent position to Mudarris and shall not be considered as a substitute to second level eligibility unless authorized by the national CSC office,” he added.

Under the BEC, graduates with Latin honors from a recognized university in Arabic and/or Islamic studies, whether local or international, may be exempted from the special qualifying exams and shall automatically be eligible to hold permanent positions, subject to applicable civil service rules on granting honor graduate eligibility.

MBHTE also said all Madrasah schoolteachers in the Bangsamoro must have subject mastery and pedagogical competence and must possess good personality and social and interpersonal skills.

It also requires that teachers have the capacity to address the needs of learners with special needs.

Mudarris is one of the professions not regulated by the Professional Regulation Commission and is not covered by Republic Act 1080 or the act declaring the bar and board examinations as civil service examinations.

“Section 18, Article IX of the Bangsamoro Organic Law mandates the promulgation of qualification standards for Madaris teachers, and for this purpose the MBHTE shall propose qualification standard subject to the approval of the CSC,” Iqbal said.