Various research studies on teacher preparation, recruitment, training and migration revealed important findings that could affect the quality of science and mathematics education in the country. Education experts and policy-makers formulated policy recommendations that could improve the perceived shortage of qualified teachers, most specially in the public school system in a Forum on Market Study and Monitoring System on Teacher Education in Science and Mathematics held recently at The Heritage Hotel in Pasay City. The project draws the expertise of educators and policy-makers from different disciplines to describe and assess the current crop of teachers, who are the actual outputs of the various Teacher Education Institutions or TEIs, in terms of the following: preparation at the pre-service level; marketability and absorption; professional development; policies affecting teacher education; other concerns and problems of the teaching profession. The studies focused on critical areas of concern, particularly those affecting the number and quality of teachers employed to provide basic science and mathematics education. The issues discussed included the need to attract brighter students to the teaching profession and to review the education curricula in the teacher training institutions. The hiring of new recruits has been recommended to be a collaborative effort among stakeholders to make sure that the teachers absorbed into the system are qualified to teach the subjects they will handle. Continuing education through updating and upgrading programs should also be provided, focusing on long-term training rather than short-term ones. Both the researchers and discussants in the forum therefore recommended an increase in government investment for teacher training. There is also a need to review the competencies of teachers tested by PRC, such that relevant and more practical teaching skills become part of the parameter for licensing new teachers. Likewise, the on-the-job evaluation system for teachers should include new skills and content requirements.

Opening Program Photo Gallery Breakout Sessions Photo Gallery Closing Program Photo Gallery

With the seeming exodus of teacher migrants to the US and other countries, the studies on the deployment, emigration and shortage of teachers bared the increasing trend in teacher migration and probed on the reasons why teachers leave. This was attributed to both economic and non-economic reasons. The top solutions to replenish the number of teacher we lose to other countries include the continuing recruitment of bright students to the teaching profession; providing incentives to teachers such as scholarships; institutionalizing the Balik-Scientist Program to facilitate mentoring of teachers; providing tax incentives to teachers; and instilling or reviving love of country as a component of the Filipino value system. The Forum was organized by the Science Education Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (SEI-DOST) to share the findings of the studies to various audiences not only to aid them in making important decisions that impinge on teacher education and absorption, but also to mobilize them to draw their own conclusions and recommendations, and hopefully to enable them to make use of the study in effecting innovative programs.