GATCHALIAN ADVOCATES SCHOLARSHIPS TO CULTIVATE FUTURE TOP TEACHERS

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GATCHALIAN ADVOCATES SCHOLARSHIPS TO CULTIVATE FUTURE TOP TEACHERS

Senator Win Gatchalian continues to champion efforts to attract the best and brightest students to the teaching profession by exploring funding options for teacher education scholarships.

Despite the Teacher Education Council’s (TEC) request for a PHP 202.5 million allocation for the Teacher Education Scholarship Program (TESP) under the Excellence in Teacher Education Act (Republic Act No. 11713), the proposed funding was not included in the 2025 General Appropriations Act. The TESP aims to support deserving graduates from both public and private basic education institutions, as well as tertiary-level students, in pursuing teaching degrees.

TEC Executive Director Dr. Jennie Jocson shared that alternative funding avenues are being considered, including private donors and leveraging existing scholarships from Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs). Meanwhile, Gatchalian proposed reallocating a portion of the PHP 20.7 billion Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) fund for the program.

“We can tap into the UniFAST fund. Attracting the best and brightest to become future teachers is a worthwhile endeavor. We’ll collaborate with the Commission on Higher Education to allocate a portion for the TESP,” Gatchalian said during a review of the Excellence in Teacher Education Act’s implementation.

TESP scholars will enroll in undergraduate programs offered by Teacher Education Centers of Excellence (COEs), institutions recognized for their outstanding performance in teacher training, faculty qualifications, research, and their ability to produce top-tier graduates.

Authored and sponsored by Gatchalian, the Excellence in Teacher Education Act strengthens TEC by improving collaboration among the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC). The law ensures alignment between pre-service and in-service teacher education and requires the TEC to establish a comprehensive teacher education roadmap and set baseline standards for teacher education programs.

Through these initiatives, Gatchalian aims to elevate the teaching profession and ensure the education system benefits from the expertise of highly qualified teachers.