MANILA – The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), member agencies of the Teacher Education Council (TEC), signed a joint memorandum circular (JMC), today, in a move to address the misalignment between the Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LEPT) and the current teacher education curriculum.

         President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. earlier directed the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) to take immediate action to address the existing gaps in licensing teachers while awaiting the proposed bill amending the Teacher Professionalization Act of 1994.

         CHED Chairperson J. Prospero De Vera III and PRC Chairperson Atty. Charito Zamora signed the joint circular in Malacañang. TEC led the drafting of the circular with support from EDCOM II.

      Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary and TEC Chairperson Sonny Angara highlighted the importance of this development in teacher preparation.

         “Our schools are only as good as our teachers. They are the heart and the soul of our system. It is up to us to ensure that our learners get the very best quality of teaching. The administration of President Bongbong Marcos is committed to this mission and this moral imperative. With this agreement we take a better quality of education for the country,” Angara stated.

         The JMC aims to ensure that assessments reflect the competencies set for effective teaching in each field. Through this policy, graduates of Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (BECEd), Bachelor of Special Needs Education (BSNEd), Bachelor of Technical-Vocational Teacher Education (BTVTEd), Bachelor of Physical Education (BPEd) and Bachelor of Culture and Arts Education (BCAEd) will now have dedicated licensure examinations.

         TEC Executive Director Dr. Jennie Jocson expressed the policy’s potential impact. “At the TEC, we welcome this development as it means that the policies are adapting to the demands of the time. This JMC has the potential of addressing drawbacks in teacher supply, particularly in early childhood education and technical-vocational education in senior high schools, as graduates will be encouraged to take these programs in our teacher education institutions.”

         Dr. Jocson added that the DepEd, the biggest employer of teachers, may be better guided for hiring teachers with licenses that match their degree programs.

      Following the signing, PRC will focus on a phased implementation of the policy beginning in the September 2025 licensure examination.

Screenshot from: Presidential Communications Office (Live)