ARTICLE I
Purpose

"AN ACT STRENGTHENING TEACHER EDUCATION IN THE PHILIPPINES BY ESTABLISHING CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE, CREATING A TEACHER EDUCATION COUNCIL FOR THE PURPOSE, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."

ARTICLE II
Implementing Rules & Regulations

SECTION 1.       Title. - These rules and regulations shall be known and cited as the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 7784.

SECTION 2.       Objective . - These rules and regulations are formulated to prescribe the guidelines and procedures for the implementation of the provisions of RA 7784 in strengthening teacher education in the Philippines by establishing Centers of Excellence, creating Teacher Education Council in order to facilitate compliance and achieve its objectives.

SECTION 3.       Declaration of Policy . - It is the declared policy of the state to protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels and it shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. It is likewise universally recognized that the teacher is the key to the effectiveness of the teaching-learning process by drawing out and nurturing the best in the learner as a human being and a worthy member of society. Thus, this Act aims to provide and ensure quality education by strengthening the education and training of teachers nationwide through a national system of excellence for teacher education.   Our vision is a teacher education system whose mission is to educate and train teachers of unquestionable integrity and competence, and who are committed to their continuing professional growth and obligation to help their students grow as responsible individuals and citizens of the Philippines and the world.

ARTICLE III
Definition of Terms

For purposes of these rules and regulations, the following definition of terms will apply:  

a.         Council refers to the Teacher Education Council created under RA 7784;

b.         Teacher Education Council refers to the group of experts composed of eleven (11) members designated and/or appointed in accordance with Section 5 of RA 7784;

c.         Teacher shall mean all persons engaged in the classroom teaching of any subject, including, but not limited to practical/vocational arts, at the elementary and secondary levels of instruction, persons performing guidance and counselling services, instructional supervision in all private or public educational institutions, but shall not include school nurses, school physicians, school dentists, school administrators, and other school administrative support employees. Graduates of education who passed the government examination for teachers, although not actually employed as such, are hereby included in this definition;

d.         Teacher Education shall mean the pre-service education, and graduate education and the in-service education of teachers in various areas of specialization; in both public and private institutions of basic education.   cSHIaA

e.         Excellence pertains to the effective, efficient, and innovative delivery of relevant, functional, and quality programs in teacher education, training, research and community service beyond the minimum requirement needed to operate a program as attested by their accredited status;

f.          Center of Excellence refers to a public or private college, institute, school or agency, engaged in the pre-service and continuing education, formal and non-formal of teachers and teacher educators that has established and continues to maintain a track record in teacher education (in terms of graduates and their performance, in the government examination for teachers and their professional achievement), research, and community service based on the criteria specified on Section 3 of RA 7784.

g.         Teacher Education Institution refers to a recognized educational institution offering pre-service teacher education programs/courses.

ARTICLE V
Establishment of Centers of Excellence for Teacher Education

For purposes of this IRR, there shall be identified, established and developed in strategic places in each of the regions of the country, one or more centers of excellence for teacher education based on the criteria listed hereunder, assessed and adjudged by the Council. These Centers of Excellence shall be initially chosen from among existing public and private educational institutions by the Teacher Education Council created under this Act. When resources allow, certain centers of excellence for teacher education at the provincial level may later be identified and developed.

SECTION 1.       Criteria in Identifying Schools/Colleges/ Universities as Centers of Excellence in Teacher Education. -

The following criteria in identifying schools, colleges, or universities as centers of excellence in teacher education shall be strictly adhered to:

a.         Highly-educated, professionally qualified and experienced faculty dedicated to the philosophy, mission, vision and goals of the institution and of education;

b.         Adequate library, research and study facilities;

c.         Competent administrative and support staff;

d.         Well-selected students as reflected in the institution's admission policies and standards;

e.         Well-planned and relevant instructional programs;

f.          Adequate student development program;

g.         Adequate student services;

h.         Relevant extension services and outreach programs;

i.          Average percentage of LET passers for the last 3 years.

j.          Percentages of graduates who become teachers;

k.         Such other criteria as may be established and operationalized by the Council including but not limited to innovativeness and other similar measures of excellence.

Institutions which qualify under the criteria set by the Council shall be asked to submit their plans for operationalizing the intended functions of the Center of Excellence on the basis of which the Council will identify the Centers in the country.

SECTION 2.       Networking of the Teacher Education Centers of Excellence (TECE). - The Council in coordination with the TECE shall form a national network, which in turn shall network with elementary schools, high schools in both public and private institutions and/or part thereof for laboratory purposes.

SECTION 3.       Development and Transfer of the Centers of Excellence. - Any institution identified as a Center of Excellence for Teacher Education shall be assisted by the Teacher Education Council, through appropriations from the national government or grants from other sources, in order to fully utilize the potential impact of these institutions in upgrading teacher education in the country. These institutions shall be maintained by the Council for a period of at least five (5) years before any proposal to transfer it elsewhere shall be affected.

ARTICLE VI
Objectives and Functions of the Teacher Education Council Center of Excellence

The following shall be objectives and functions of the Teacher Education Center of Excellence:

a.         Experiment and try out relevant and innovative pre-service or in-service teacher education/training program;

b.         Organize and coordinate collaborative research on identified areas for systematic investigation in teacher education as basis for improving teacher education programs;

c.         Serve as teacher resource center for curricular/instructional materials development;

d.         Serve as the central node for networking specific disciplines in teacher education in the region;

e.         Provide professional assistance to Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) that have expressed the need for such assistance;

f.          Encourage mutual support among TEIs in the region for upgrading and improving their programs; and

g.         Facilitate and help expedite accreditation among TEIs either through the recognized accrediting bodies of the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines (FAAP) or through the CHED-equivalent accrediting of Teacher Education programs.

ARTICLE VII
Composition, Appointment, Term of Office, Criteria for Selection of Regular Council Members, Powers and Functions

SECTION 1.       The Teacher Education Council. - The Teacher Education Council (hereinafter referred to as the Council) shall be composed of four (4) permanent members and seven (7) regular members as representatives from different disciplines:

The following are the permanent members of the Council:

1.         Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports as ex-officio chairman;

2.         A Commissioner of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as ex-officio member;

3.         Chairman of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) as ex-officio member; and

4.         A representative of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) as ex-officio member.

The seven (7) regular members of the Council who shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines upon recommendation by the Council Chairman and in consultation with the TEC:

1.         A representative of centers of teacher education from Luzon;

2.         A representative of centers of teacher education from Visayas;

3.         A representative of centers of teacher education from Mindanao;

4.         One (1) representative of Science Teachers;

5.         One (1) representative of Mathematics Teachers;

6.         One (1) representative of Social Studies Teachers;

7.         One (1) representative of Language Teachers.

These regular members shall take into account the views of the parents, teachers, community associations, student associations, non-governmental associations, and people organizations concerned with basic education.

Except for the Ex-officio Chairman of the Council, the other Officers of the Council shall be elected by the members from among the regular members.

SECTION 2.       Compensation . - The members of the Council shall serve without any compensation but shall be entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred by them in carrying out their duties as mandated by R.A. 7784 subject to the usual accounting and auditing rules and regulations.

SECTION 3.       Term of Office . - All regular members of the Council shall hold office for a period of three (3) years.

SECTION 4.       Criteria for the Selection of Regular Council Members. - The criteria for the selection of regular members are as follows:

a.         Integrity;

b.         Expertise and experience in teacher education and its activities;

c.         Recognized expertise in Education in any area of specialization, either nationally or internationally; and

d.         Willingness to serve.

The Institution from where a Council member may be connected shall support the Council member by providing for the necessary official time or financial assistance when the Council member performs his/her duty in the Council.

SECTION 5.       Powers and Functions of the Council. - Here under are the powers and functions of the Council:

a.         Identify and designate from among existing public and private schools, teacher education institutions as Centers of Excellence for Teacher Education, at the national, regional or provincial levels;

b.         Formulate policies and standards for teacher education upon recommendation by the Technical Panel for Teacher Education of the Commission on Higher Education to improve the system of teacher education in all existing public and private schools to pursue teacher education careers;

c.         Initiate a periodic review of curricula and programs for teacher education as well as training through participatory methods, such as Self-Assessment and Peer Review methods;

d.         Adopt an adequate system of incentives such as scholarship grants, loan programs, subsidies, stipends, and other similar benefits and incentives in order to attract and encourage outstanding high school graduates whether from public or private schools to pursue teacher education careers;

e.         Encourage the establishment of consortia and other cooperative arrangements among teacher education schools, public or private, for greater efficiency and economy in the use of resources;

f.          Design collaborative programs or projects that will enhance pre-service teacher training, in-service training, re-training, orientation and teacher development;

g.         Direct the conduct of relevant studies in teacher education, through the research funds of the Commission on Higher Education, needed in the formulation of policies and in the planning and successful implementation of plans, programs, and projects required in attaining the purposes of R.A. 7784;

h.         Review existing legislations and recommend new legislations and policies of the government in order to improve teacher education and promote the welfare of the teachers;

i.          Recommend appropriate measures to the President of the Philippines, Congress and heads of other government offices and agencies to improve, enhance and strengthen teacher education; and

j.          Call upon any Department, Bureau, Office or Government Corporation, local government units, and other concerned agencies for assistance in areas falling within their mandates.

ARTICLE VIII
The Council Secretariat and Administrative Support Staff

SECTION 1.       The Secretariat. - The Council shall organize and appoint a Secretariat within 30 days from the promulgation of the Implementing Rules and Regulation of R.A. 7784. The Council Secretariat shall be headed by an Executive Director to be appointed by the Council. The Executive Director shall report directly to the Council Chairman.

SECTION 2.       Functions . - The Council Secretariat shall have the following functions:

a.         Provide the necessary assistance to the Council in executing its policies and programs;

b.         Provide the necessary administrative support for the Teacher Education Council;

c.         Coordinate with the various Teacher Education advisory bodies for the implementation of the Council policies and programs;

d.         Administer the day-to-day activities of the Teacher Education Council including the organization of the Annual Convention of Centers of Excellence, monitoring and evaluation of Centers of Excellence, and others;

e.         Update the Teacher Education Council on the activities of the various teacher education advisory bodies and the performance of the various teacher education institutions in the country;

f.          Develop and enhance a Teacher Education Management Information System for the country as basis for policy formulation of the Teacher Education Council.

SECTION 3.       Staffing of the Council Secretariat. - To ensure that the Council's plans, policies, and programs are properly implemented, the Executive Director shall recommend to the Council the appointment of the staff of the Council Secretariat.

SECTION 4.       Office of the Council Secretariat . - The Department of Education, Culture and Sports shall provide the Council Secretariat its permanent office.

ARTICLE IX
Active Participation of Local Government Units

Local government units shall include their plans, programs, and projects the development and improvement of teacher education through the Centers of Excellence in their respective regions. Copies of this IRR shall be provided to all government officials in the country.

ARTICLE X
Appropriations

SECTION 1.       Initial Appropriations . - The sum of One hundred Million Pesos (P100,000,000.00) was authorized and appropriated from the income of duty-free shops or otherwise known as the Trust Liability Account of the Department of Tourism, for the initial organizational and developmental activities of the Centers and the Council: provided, however, that not more than five (5) percent or P5M shall be devoted to Council's expenses. A special TEC-account shall be set up for the purpose of this Act.

SECTION 2.       Succeeding Appropriations. - Thereafter, such amount as may be necessary to carry out its function, shall be included in the annual budget of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports. Amounts to be allocated for pre-service and in-service training shall be based on the budget estimates to be submitted by the Executive Director of the Council.

SECTION 3.       Fund Administration . - The Council funds shall be administered by the Executive Director of the Teacher Education Council who shall render annual financial accountability report to the Council. The accounting of funds shall be undertaken by DECS and the auditing of reports by the DECS Resident Auditor.

ARTICLE XI
Effectivity

This Implementing Rules and Regulations shall take effect immediately after its approval by the Council.

Adopted: 20 July 2000

(SGD.) ANDREW B. GONZALEZ, FSC Secretary, DECS Council Chairman	(SGD.) ESTER A. GARCIA Chairman, Commission on Higher Education (CHED)
(SGD.) HERMOGENES G. POBRE Chairman, Philippine Regulation Commission (PRC)	(SGD.) JAIME C. LAYA Chairman, National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA)
(SGD.) ROSITA L. NAVARRO TEC Representative for Luzon	(SGD.) NILO E. COLINARES TEC Representative for Visayas
(SGD.) TERESITA T. TUMAPON TEC Representative for Mindanao	(SGD.) ROGELIO R. YEBAN TEC Teacher Representative for Mathematics
(SGD.) RAQUEL L. PASIGPASIGAN TEC Teacher Representative for Social Studies