The Teaching Profession: Elements,

Module 1 Meaning and its Historical

Development in the Philippines
-Criselda Ngislawan

Introduction
Teaching Profession
has been established to be
not a job but a calling, a
mission and a form of great
service. Teaching has
become very complex and
demanding of the teachers’
knowledge, skills and values
needed in the discharge of
their duties and
st
responsibilities for the 21
century teaching – learning arena. Teachers must have global skills and perspectives
in their teaching approaches for they are the key players in ensuring high quality
education skills and career preparedness for all young people. Teachers must not
only be knowledgeable, competence, skillful but also behaviour and multi-culture
specialists to be able to apply differentiated instruction and understand diverse
learning needs.

Learning Outcomes
In this module, you are expected to:

1. explain the meaning of teaching as a profession.

2. compare PD 1006 and RA 783, laws that professionalized teaching.

3. demonstrate deep appreciation for the professionalization of teaching

and for the teaching profession itself.
4. relate the impact of the professionalization of teaching on your future
life as a full-fledge professional teachers.
5. trace the historical development of teaching as a profession in the
Philippines.

6. discuss and internalize teaching as a vocation and mission.

7. explain how a professional teacher should conduct himself/herself as a

person, in the teaching profession and in business.

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Learning Contents
This module contains the following lessons for you to be able to meet the
expected learning outcomes:

1. Teaching as a Profession

2. Teaching as a Vocation and Mission

Teaching and Learning Activities

Each of the lessons in this module contains activities that can be done
individually, by pair, and by group in an asynchronous or synchronous mode of learning.

Recommended learning materials and resources for supplementary reading.

The recommended learning materials and resources in this module include
the URL of the resources from the Internet (PDF, youtube, slideshare, etc.).

Flexible Teaching Learning Modality (FTLM)

This module adopts the synchronous and asynchronous learning modalities
for you to have better access and learning of the lessons. This may include google
classroom, moodle, schoology, edmodo, Podcast, printed materials and other resources
depending on your needs and capacity to use the material.

Assessment Task
At the end of each lesson, you have to answer the given questions for your
teacher to check your understanding. This will help your teacher determine if you need
additional explanation and/or activity before proceeding to the next lesson.

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 Module 1 The Teaching Profession

Chapter one dwells on the teaching profession. Lesson 1 discusses the

Introduction
Module 1 dwells on the teaching profession. Lesson 1 discusses the
elements of a professional and examines the teaching profession to determine if it
possesses all the elements of a profession. It also presents the laws in the
professionalization of teaching (P.D. 1006 & RA 7836). It also traces the historical
development of teaching as a profession in the Philippines. Lesson 2 is a further
discussion on teaching in the light of a vocation and mission.

Learning Outcomes
1. Explain the meaning of teaching as a profession.

2. Compare PD 1006 and RA 783, laws that professionalized teaching.

3. Demonstrate deep appreciation for the professionalization of

teaching and for the teaching profession itself.

4. Relate the impact of the professionalization of teaching on your

future life as a full-fledge professional teachers.

5. Trace the historical development of teaching as a profession in the

Philippines.

6. Discuss and internalize teaching as a vocation and mission.

Learning Contents
The Teaching Profession

Teachers are duly licensed professionals who possess dignity and reputation
with high moral values as well as technical and professional competence in the
practice of their noble profession, they strictly adhere to, observe, and practice
this set of ethical and moral principles, standard, and values (Udtujan, 2014).

First thing that you must know about teaching as a profession is that teaching
is about inspiring and motivating students to realize and exceed their potentials. The
greatest teachers of all time have devoted their life in inspiring and empowering their
students to achieve great things and be a good human being. (Verma , 2020)

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 In the words “ professional manner” , “ gawang propesyonal,” “professional
fee foe expert services rendered “ the word “professional” implies one who possesses
skill and competence/expertise. “Highly professional” “unprofessional” … to act that
way imply a code of ethics by which a professional person abide. In short, professional
is one who conforms to the technical or ethical standards of a profession.so the two
elements of a profession are COMPETENCE and a CODE OF ETHICS.

The other elements of a profession are:

1. Initial Professional Education – Professionals generally begin their

professional lives by completing a university program in their chosen fields ----
teacher education, engineering, nursing accountancy. This means long and ardous
years of preparation. Take note this is just initial which means only the beginning
because a professional is expected to learn endlessly.

2. Accreditation – University programs are approved by a regulatory body

like the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in the Philippines to ensure that
graduates from these recognized programs start their professional lives with
competence.

3. Licensing – Licensing is mandatory, not voluntary and is

administered by a government authority. In the Philippines, this
government authority is the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
4. Professional Development

This is an ongoing professional organization that maintains or improves

professionals’ knowledge and skills after they begin their professional practice.
In the Philippines this is a continuing Professional Development mandated by
RA 10912, otherwise known as the CPD act of 2016.

5. Professional Societies

Professionals see themselves as part of a community of like-minded

individuals who put their professional standards above the individual self –
interest or their employer’s self – interest These professional societies put
dedication to the public interest and commitment to moral and ethical
values .Professional societies define certification criteria, manage certification
programs , establish accreditation standards and define a code of ethics and
disciplinary action for violations of that code.

6. Code of Ethics

Each profession has a code of ethics to ensure that its practitioner

behave responsibly. The code states what professionals should do.
Professionals can be ejected from their professional societies or lose their
licenses to practice for violating the code of ethics.
http://www.alexsbrown .com/prof9.html.Retrieved ( 6-3-18)

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 The teaching profession is governed by the Code of Ethics for Professional
Teachers. Violation of the Code of Ethics professional teachers is one of the
grounds for the revocation of the professional teacher’s license Certificate of
Registration and suspension from the practice of the Teaching Profession ( Sec.
23 .,RA 7836 )
The Historical Development of Teaching as a Profession in the Philippines

The first legal document that professionalized teaching was Presidential Decree
1006 issued by then President Ferdinand E. Marcos. It was only in 1976 with PD
1006 KNOWN AS THE Decree Professionalizing Teaching that teachers in the
Philippines became professionalized. The need to professionalize teaching was felt “
to ensure that in the immediacy and urgency of teacher recruitment , qualitative
requirements are not overlooked , and although teaching requires a number of years
of collegiate study , it is the only course that is not yet considered a profession
(PD 1006).Furthermore , in recognition of the vital role of teachers in nation-building
and as an incentive to raise the morale of teachers , it is imperative that they be
considered as professionals and teaching be recognized as a profession “ (PD 1006 ).
Then in 1994, R.A 7836, otherwise known as the Philippine Teacher
Professionalization Act of 1994,was passed to promote quality education by proper
supervision and regulation of the licensure examination and professionalization of the
practice of the teaching profession.” (Sec.2)
During the pre-Hispanic period, there was no established formal schooling in
the country. So there was no formal preparation for teachers, too. The mothers
and fathers and tribal leaders served as teachers at home and in the community.

During the Spanish period and by virtue of Educational Decree of 1863 free
public school system was established. There was one school for boys and another
school for girls in every municipality. The Spanish missionaries served as teachers. The
same Decree provided for a normal school run by the Jesuits to educate male teachers
in Manila. Normal schools for women were not established until 1875. So it was the
Spaniards who started training teachers in normal school.

Paz Ramos, once Dean of the College of Education of the University of the
Philippines, Diliman, claims:
The foundation of teacher education in the Philippines were laid by the Spanish
government during the mid-eighteenth century. It is said to have begun on August
4, 1765 , when King Charles of Spain issued a Royal Decree requiring each village to
have a “ maestro” on November 28 , 1772,another Royal Decree specified the
qualifications of teachers. However, was not until 1863 that there was a specific
attempt to systematize and update the education of Filipino teachers.

At the end of Spanish rule, schools during the Spanish era were closed for
a time by Aguinaldo’s government. So there was no teacher preparation that took place.

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 During the American regime, American soldiers served as the first Commission
teachers. In 1901, the Philippine Commission enacted into law Act 74 which created
the Department of Public Instruction, laid the foundations of the public school system
and offered free primary education for Filipinos.

There was a shortage of teachers. The Philippine authorized the Secretary

of Public Instruction to bring to the Philippines 600 teachers from USA. They were the
Thomasites. Due to urgent need for teachers, the Americans gave bright young
Filipino students opportunity to take up higher education in American colleges and
universities financed by the Philippine Government. They were the pensionados.
Act 74 of 1901 also provided for the establishment of Philippine Normal School
(PNS) in Manila. The Philippine Normal School formally opened in September 1901, as
an institution for the training of teachers. For more than two decades, PNS offered a
two-year general secondary education program. In 1928, it became a junior college
offering a two-year program to graduates of secondary schools. In 1949, The
Philippine Normal School, renamed Philippine Normal College, offered the four-year
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. Other four year teacher education
courses followed after. This means that the present four-year preparation for the
professional teacher began as a two-year program only. Teacher preparation became
four years only in 1949 and thereafter.
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO 1006
PROVIDING FOR THE PROFESSIONALIZATION OF TEACHERS, REGULATING THEIR PRACTICE
IN THE PHILIPPINES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

WHEREAS, the Constitution provides that “All educational institutions shall be under the
supervision of; and subject to regulation by, the State”, and requires that “the State shall
establish and maintain a complete, adequate and integrated system of education relevant
to the goals of national development”;
WHEREAS, in the pursuit on these objectives, the Department of Education and Culture
has adopted ways and means of overseeing all the educational institutions in the country;
WHEREAS, this supervisory function of the DEC has been primarily beamed towards
insuring that the educational institutions inculcate in the studentry love of the country,
teach the duties of citizenship, and develop moral character, personal discipline, and
scientific, technological and
vocational efficiency.

WHEREAS, to implement these objectives, the institutions have relied upon their teachers
whose direct and continuing interaction with the young people and the children make them
potent forces for the development of proper attitudes among the citizenry;

WHEREAS, this accounts for the tremendous growth of the teaching population, comprising
in the civil service sector alone more than 300,000 teachers deployed all over the country;
WHEREAS, to insure that in the immediacy and urgency of teacher recruitment qualitative
requirements are not overlooked, it has become necessary to regulate the teaching
profession;

WHEREAS, although teaching requires a number of years of collegiate study, it is the only
course that it is not yet considered a profession;

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 WHEREAS, in recognition of the vital role of teachers in nation-building and as an incentive to
raise the morale of teachers, it is imperative that they be considered as professionals and
teaching be recognized as a profession.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FERDINAND E. MARCOS, President of the Philippines, by virtue of

the powers vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby decree and order:

Section 1. Title. This Decree shall be known as the Decree Professionalizing

Teaching.

Section 2. Declaration of Policy. It is hereby declared a policy that teacher education shall be
given primary concern and attention by the government and shall be of the highest quality,
and strongly oriented to Philippine conditions and to the needs and aspirations of the Filipino
people even as it seeks enrichment from adoptable ideas and practices of other people.

Section 3. Definition of Terms. As used in this Decree, the following shall be construed as
follows:
(a) Teaching refers to the profession primarily concerned with the classroom instruction,
at the elementary and secondary levels, in accordance with the curriculum prescribed by
National Board of Education, whether on part-time or full-time basis in the public or private
schools.

(b) Teachers refers to all persons engaged in teaching at the elementary and secondary levels,
whether on a full-time or part-time basis, including guidance counselors, school
librarians, industrial arts or vocational teachers and all other persons performing supervisory
and/or administrative functions in all schools in the aforesaid levels and legally qualified to
practice teaching under this Decree.

(c) Board refers to the National Board for Teachers duly constituted under this
Decree.

Section 4. Creation of the National Board for Teachers. There is hereby created a National
Board for Teachers, hereinafter called the Board, to be composed of the following:

1) Secretary of Education and Culture Co- Chairman

2) Chairman, Civil Service Commission

3) Commissioner, Professional Regulations Commission

4) Two members representing the private sector to be appointed by Member

the President

Section 5. Powers and Duties. The Board shall have the following powers and
duties:
(a) Appoint a set of examiners for every examination who will determine and prepare the
contents of the Board examination for teachers, hereinafter referred to as examination, in the
elementary and secondary levels of instruction, to be held at least once a year;
(b) Determine and fix the places and dates of examination, appoint supervisors and room
examiners from among the employees of the Government who shall be entitled to a daily
allowance to be fixed by the Board for every examination day actually attended, use the
buildings and facilities of public and private schools for examination purposes, approve
applications to take examination, and approve the release of examination results;
(c) Look from time to time into the conditions affecting the practice of the teaching profession,
adopt such measures as may be deemed proper for the enhancement of said
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 profession, and/or maintenance of the professional standards and ethics;
(d) Issue, suspend, revoke, replace or reissue Professional Teachers Certificate, and
administer oaths;
(e) Appoint, subject to the provisions of existing laws, such officials and employees as are
necessary in the effective performance of its functions and responsibilities, prescribe their
duties and fix their compensation;
(f) Prescribe and collect examination and other fees as it may deem
proper; and
(g) Promulgate rules and regulations, and exercise such other powers, functions and duties
as may be necessary to carry into effect the purposes of this Decree.
Section 6. Qualification requirements for examination applicants. No applicant shall be
admitted to take the examination unless, on the date of filing of the application, he shall have
complied with the following requirements:
(a) Except those who have been engaged in teaching as herein defined for at least five
years in schools in the Philippines not organized exclusively for nationals of a foreign
country at the time of the effectivity of this Decree, the applicant must be a citizen of the
Philippines;
(b) That he is of good moral character;

(c) That he is free from any physical and/or mental defect which will incapacitate him to
render
efficient service; and

(d) That he possesses the following minimum educational

qualifications:
1) For teachers in the kindergarten and elementary grades, Bachelor’s degree
in Elementary Education (B.S.E.Ed.) or its equivalent;
2) For teachers of the secondary schools, Bachelor’s degree in Education or its
equivalent with a major and minor, or a Bachelor’s degree in Arts or Sciences with at least
eighteen units in professional education; and
3) For teachers of secondary vocational and two-year technical courses, Bachelor’s
degree in the field of specialization with at least eighteen units in professional education.
All applications shall be filed with an office or offices designated by the Board, preferably
the offices of the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Education and Culture.
These offices shall screen and approve such applications and issue the corresponding
permits to take the examination to qualify applicants.
Section 7. Appointment of examiners. The Board shall appoint a set of examiners for every
examination who are recognized authority in teacher education, and their names shall not
be disclosed until after the release of the results of the examination. They shall each
receive as compensation the sum of not less than P5.00 for each examinee as may be
determined by the Board but in no case shall each examiner receive more than P18,000
per examination. Any examiner who is in the service of the Government shall receive the
compensation herein provided in addition to his salary.
Section 8. Scope of the examination. The examination shall consist of written tests, the scope
of which shall be determined by the Board, taking into consideration the teaching plan of
the schools legally constituted in the Philippines.
Section 9. Ratings in the examination. In order that a candidate may be deemed to have
successfully passed the examinations, he must have obtained a general average of at least 70
per cent in all subjects, with no rating below 50 per cent in any subject.
Section 10. Report of the results of examination. The examiners shall report the ratings
obtained by each candidate to the Board within 150 days after the last day of the examination,
unless extended by the latter.
Section 11. Issuance of Certificates. Teachers who have passed examinations given by the
Civil Service Commission or jointly by the Civil Service Commission and the Department of
Education and Culture shall be considered as having passed the board examinations for
teachers. The Board may consider their certificates of rating as certificates of eligibility or

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 issue an entirely new certificate upon registration of the teacher and payment of the
corresponding fees.
This provision shall likewise apply to those teachers who have permanent appointment under
the Magna Carta For Public School Teachers and all others who may be qualified for registration
as professional teachers under this Decree.
Section 12. Registration. The Civil Service Commission shall, as an arm of the Board, register
holders of Professional Teacher Certificate which registration shall evidence that the
registrant is entitled to all the rights and privileges of a Professional Teacher until and unless
the certificate is suspended or canceled by the Board for just cause.
Section 13. Reissuance of revoked certificates and replacement of lost certificates. The Board
may, for reason of equity and justice, and upon proper application therefor, issue another copy,
original or duplicate, upon payment of the required fee, of a certificate which has been
revoked. A new certificate to replace a lost, destroyed or mutilated certificate may be
issued subject to the rules of the Board.
Section 14. Registration by reciprocity. The Civil Service Commission shall, upon approval of
the Board, effect the registration, without examination, of a teacher validly registered
under the laws of any foreign state or country; Provided, That the requirements for registration
in said foreign state or country are substantially the same as those required and
contemplated by this Decree, and the laws of such foreign state or country allow citizens
of the Philippines to practice the profession on the same basis and grant the same privileges
as the citizens or subjects of such foreign state or country; Provided finally, That the applicant
shall submit competent and conclusive documentary evidence, confirmed by the Department
of Foreign Affairs, showing that his country’s existing laws permit citizens of the Philippines
to practice teaching profession under the rules and regulations governing citizens thereof.
Section 15. Prohibition. Three years after the effectivity of this Decree, no person shall
engage in teaching and/or act as a teacher as defined in this Decree, whether in the public
or private elementary or secondary school, unless he is holder of a Professional Teacher
Certificate or is considered a Professional Teacher under this Decree.
Section 16. Penal Provision. Any person who shall practice the teaching without a valid
Professional Teacher Certificate, or any person presenting as his or her own the certificate
of another, or any person giving any false or forged evidence in order to obtain a Professional
Teacher Certificate or admission to an examination, or any person assuming himself as a
registered professional teacher or any person violating any provision of this Decree shall be
penalized by a fine of not less than One Thousand Pesos nor more than Five Thousand
Pesos with subsidiary imprisonment or to suffer an imprisonment of not less than six months
nor more than two years, or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the Court.
Section 17. Repealing Clause. All Acts, Decrees, Executive Orders, Administrative Orders,
rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Decree are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 18. Separability Clause. In case any provision of this Decree or any portion thereof is
declared unconstitutional by a competent court, other provisions shall not be affected thereby.
Section 19. Effectivity. This Decree shall take effect January 1, 1977.

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 REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7836 AN ACT TO STRENGTHEN THE REGULATION AND SUPERVISION
OF THE PRACTICE OF TEACHING IN THE PHILIPPINES AND PRESCRIBING A LICENSURE
EXAMINATION FOR TEACHERS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

ARTICLE I TITLE

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the "Philippine Teachers
Professionalization Act of 1994."

Sec. 2. Statement of Policy. — The State recognizes the vital role of teachers in nation-
building and development through a responsible and literate citizenry. Towards this end, the
State shall ensure and promote quality education by proper supervision and regulation of the
licensure examination and professionalization of the practice of the teaching profession.

Sec. 3. Objectives. — This Act has the herein objectives: (a) The promotion, development and
professionalization of teachers and the teaching profession; and (b) The supervision and
regulation of the licensure examination.

Sec. 4. Definition of Terms. — For purposes of this Act, the following terms shall mean:
(a) "Teaching" — refers to the profession concerned primarily with classroom instruction,
at the elementary and secondary levels in accordance with the curriculum prescribed by
the Department of Education, Culture and Sports, whether on part-time or full-time basis
in the private or public schools. (b) "Teachers" — refers to all persons engaged in
teaching at the elementary and secondary levels, whether on full-time or part-time basis,
including industrial arts or vocational teachers and all other persons performing
supervisory and/or administrative functions in all schools in the aforesaid levels and qualified
to practice teaching under this Act. (c) "Board" — refers to the Board for Professional
Teachers duly established and constituted under this Act. (d) "Commission" — refers
to the Professional Regulation Commission.

ARTICLE II BOARD FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS

Sec. 5. Creation and Composition of the Board. — There is hereby created under this Act
a Board for Professional Teachers, hereinafter called the Board, a collegial body under the
general supervision and administrative control of the Professional Regulation Commission,
hereinafter referred to as the Commission, composed of five (5) members who shall be
appointed by the President of the Philippines from among the recommendees chosen by the
Commission .The recommendees shall be chosen from the list of nominees selected by
the accredited association of teachers, who duly possess all the qualifications prescribed
in Section 8 of this Act. The chairman and the voice- chairman of the Board shall be
appointed from these five (5) members by the President: Provided, That the members of the
first Board appointed under this Act shall be automatically registered as professional teachers
and issued with the certificate of registration and professional license upon payment of
the fees for examination, registration, and other fees prescribed by the Commission.

Sec. 6. Duties and Function of the Board. — The Board shall have the following duties
and functions: (a) Promulgate, administer and enforce rules and regulations necessary for
carrying out the provisions of this Act in accordance with the charter of the Professional
Regulation Commission; (b) Determine and fix the frequency, dates, and places of
examination, appoint supervisors, proctors, and other personnel as needed who shall be
entitled to a daily allowance to be fixed by the Board for every examination day actually

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 attended, use buildings and facilities of public or private schools for examination
purposes; (c) Issue, suspend, or revoke the certificate of registration for the practice of
the teaching profession; (d) Prescribe and collect examination and other fees as it may deem
proper; (e) Prescribe and/or adopt a code of ethical and professionalstandards for the
practice of the teaching profession. Such ethical standards, rules and regulations to take
effect sixty (60) days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in any newspaper of
general circulation; (f) Administer oaths in connection with the administration of this Act;
(g) Supervise and regulate the registration, licensure and practice of professional teachers
in the Philippines; (h) Adopt an official seal of the Board;
(i) Look into the conditions affecting the practice of the teaching profession and whenever
necessary, adopt such measures as may be deemed proper for the enhancement and
maintenance of high professional and ethical standards of the profession; (j) Ensure that all
educational institutions offering elementary and secondary education comply with the
essential requirements for curricula, faculty and facilities for the elementary and secondary
levels; (k) Investigate such violations of this Act, the rules and the code of ethical and
professional standards for professional teachers as it may come to the knowledge of the
Board, and for this purpose, to issue subpoena and subpoena duces tecum to secure the
appearance of witnesses and the production of documents in connection therewith; and
(l) Discharge such other powers, duties and functions as the Board may deem necessary
for the practice of the teaching profession and the upgrading, enhancement, development
and growth of education in the Philippines.

Sec. 7. Term of Office. — The members of the Board shall hold office for a term of three
(3) years from the date they assume office: Provided, That the first appointees to the
Board under this Act shall hold office according to the following terms: one (1) member shall
serve for one (1) year; one (1) member for two (2) years; the chairman, vice- chairman, and
one (1) member for three (3) years. Vacancies shall be served for the unexpired term only.
No person who has served for two (2) consecutive terms shall be eligible for reappointment.
Appointment to fill an unexpired term shall be considered an appointment to a complete
term. The chairman or any member shall take his oath of office prior to the performance
of his duties. Sec.

8. Qualification of Board Members. — Each Board member must at the time of his
appointment: (a) Be a citizen and resident of the Philippines; (b) Be at least thirty-five
(35) years of age, of proven integrity, and possessed of high moral values in his personal
as well as professional conduct and has not been convicted of any offense involving moral
turpitude; (c) Be a holder of the degree of Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science in Education
and preferably a holder of a master's or doctorate degree in education, or their equivalents,
from a university, school, college, academy or institute duly constituted, recognized and/or
accredited by the Philippine government; (d) Be a professional teacher with a valid certificate
of registration and valid professional license, save those members who shall compose the first
Board for Professional Teachers; (e) Has been a professional teacher in the active practice of
the teaching profession for at least ten (10) years in the elementary and secondary level;
and (f) Not be an official or member of the faculty of, nor have pecuniary interest in any
university, college, school, or institution conferring a bachelor's degree in education or its
equivalents for at least three (3) years prior to his appointment, and neither connected with
a review center or with any group or association where review classes or lectures in
preparation for the licensure examination are offered or conducted. Provided, however,
That, the membership to the Board shall be evenly distributed to cover all levels of education,
including equitable representation of the different fields of specialization.

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 Sec. 9. Compensation of the Board. — The chairman, vice-chairman, and members of the
Board shall receive compensation comparable to the compensation received by existing
regulatory boards under the Professional Regulation Commission, computed on
the basis of the number of examinees/candidates.

Sec. 10. Supervision of the Board and Custodian of its Records. — The Board shall be
under the supervision and control of the Commission. All records, including applications
for examination, examination papers and results, minutes of deliberation, administrative
cases and investigative cases and investigations involving professional teachers shall be kept
by the Commission.

Sec. 11. Secretariat and Support Services. — The Professional Regulation Commission,
through its chairman, shall provide the secretariat and other support services to
implement effectively the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 12. Removal of a Board Member.

— The chairman or any member of the Board may be removed by the President of the
Philippines upon recommendation of the Commission for neglect of duty, incompetence,
unprofessional, unethical, immoral or dishonorable conduct, commission or toleration of
irregularities in the examination, after having been given the opportunity to defend
himself in a proper administrative investigation. In the course of investigation, the
President may preventively suspend the respondent.

ARTICLE III EXAMINATION AND REGISTRATION

Sec. 13. Examination, Registration and License Required. — Except as otherwise

specifically allowed under the provisions of this Act, all applicants for registration as
professional teachers shall be required to undergo a written examination which shall be given
at least once a year in such places and dates as the Board may determine upon approval by
the Commission. A valid certificate of registration and a valid professional license from the
Commission are required before any person is allowed to practice as a professional teacher in
the Philippines, except as otherwise allowed under this Act.

Sec. 14. Scope of Examination. — The examinations for the elementary and secondary school
teachers shall be separate. The examination for teachers in the elementary level shall consist
of two (2) parts, namely: professional education and general education. The examination for
teachers in the secondary level shall consist of three (3) parts, namely: professional
education, general education, and field of specialization.

Sec. 15. Qualification Requirements of Applicants. — No applicant shall be admitted to

take the examination unless, on the date of filing of the application, he shall have
complied with the following requirements: (a) A citizen of the Philippines or an alien
whose country has reciprocity with the Philippines in the practice of the teaching profession;
(b) At least eighteen (18) years of age; (c) In good health and of good reputation with high
moral values; (d) Has not been convicted by final judgment by a court for an offense
involving moral turpitude; (e) A graduate of a school, college or university recognized by the
government and possesses the minimum educational qualifications, as follows: (1) For
teachers in preschool, a bachelor's degree in early childhood education (BECED) or its
equivalent; (2) For teachers in the elementary grades, a bachelor's degree in elementary
education (BSEED) or its equivalent; (3) For teachers in the secondary grades, a bachelor's
degree in education or its equivalent with a major and minor, or a bachelor's degree in
arts and sciences with at least ten (10) units in

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 professional education; and (4) For teachers of vocational and two-year technical courses,
a bachelor's degree in the field of specialization or its equivalent, with at least eighteen
(18) units in professional education. Sec. 16. Report of the Results of the Examination. — The
Board shall, within one hundred twenty (120) days after the examination, report the ratings
obtained by each candidate to the Professional Regulation Commission for approval and
appropriate action.

Sec. 17. Issuance of Certificate of Registration and Professional License. — The

registration of a professional teacher commences from the date his name is enrolled in
the roster of professional teachers. Every registrant who has satisfactorily met all the
requirements specified in this Act shall, upon payment of the registration fee, be issued a
certificate of registration as a professional teacher bearing the full name of the registrant with
serial number and date of issuance signed by the chairman of the Commission and the
chairman, vice-chairman, and members of the Board, stamped with the official seal, as
evidence that the person named therein is entitled to practice the profession with all the
rights and privileges appurtenant thereto. The certificate shall remain in full force and effect
until withdrawn, suspended and/or revoked in accordance with law. A professional license
signed by the chairman of the Commission and bearing the registration number and date
of issuance thereof and the month of expiry or renewability shall likewise be issued to every
registrant who has paid the annual registration fees for three (3) consecutive years. This
license shall serve as evidence that the licensee can lawfully practice his profession until the
expiration of its validity.

Sec. 18. Oath Before Practice. — Every registrant shall be required to take his
professional oath before practicing as a professional teacher.

Sec. 19. Periodic Merit Examination of Teachers. — To encourage continuing professional

growth and development and to provide additional basis for merit promotion, in addition
to their performance rating, teachers may take an oral and written examination at least once
in five (5) years as basis for merit promotion. In taking this examination, no fee shall be
required.

Sec. 20. Failure to Pass the Merit Examination. — If a teacher fails to pass the merit
examination, he or she shall be allowed to take the examination for a second time. Should he
or she fail to pass the merit examination for the second time, then he or she shall be required
to take a DECS accredited refresher course or program before being allowed to retake the
examination. Failure of any permanent teacher to pass the merit examination shall not,
however, be used as a ground for his/her dismissal or demotion.

Sec. 21. Incentives. — Teachers who pass the merit examination shall: (a) Be awarded a
diploma of merit by the Board; (b) Earn merit points for purposes of promotion in salary
or to a higher position or grade level; (c) Be placed in the priority list for government
scholarship; and (d) Enjoy such other benefits as may be promulgated by the Board.
Similar incentives shall be given to teachers who make inventions, develop new methods
of teaching, write a book or books and create works of artistic merit.

Sec. 22. Integration of the Teaching Profession. — The teaching profession shall be
integrated into one national organization which shall be recognized by the Board and the
Commission as the one and only integrated and accredited association of professional
teachers. Upon registration with the Board, every professional teacher shall be
encouraged to become a member of the integrated national organization. Those who
have been registered with the Board but are not members of the said integrated organization
shall be allowed to register as members of the said integrated organization

The Teaching Profession Module Page 13

 within three (3) years after the effectivity of this Act. Membership in the integrated
organization shall not be a bar to membership in other associations of the teaching profession.
The professional teachers shall receive the benefits and privileges appurtenant to their
membership in the said integrated and accredited organization of professional teachers only
upon payment of the required membership fees and dues.

Sec. 23. Revocation of the Certificate of Registration, Suspension from the Practice of the
Teaching Profession, and Cancellation of Temporary or Special Permit. — The Board shall
have the power, after due notice and hearing, to suspend or revoke the certificate of
registration of any registrant, to reprimand or to cancel the temporary/special permit of a
holder thereof who is exempt from registration, for any of the following causes: (a) Conviction
for any criminal offense by a court of competent jurisdiction; (b) Immoral, unprofessional or
dishonorable conduct; (c) Declaration by a court of competent jurisdiction for being
mentally unsound or insane;(d) Malpractice, gross incompetence, gross negligence or
serious ignorance of the practice of the teaching profession; (e) The use of or perpetration of
any fraud or deceit in obtaining a certificate of registration, professional license or
special/temporary permit; (f) Chronic inebriety or habitual use of drugs; (g) Violation of any
of the provisions of this Act, the rules and regulations and other policies of the Board and
the Commission, and the code of ethical and professional standards for professional
teachers; and (h) Unjustified or willful failure to attend seminars, workshops, conferences
and the like or the continuing education program prescribed by the Board and the
Commission. The decision of the Board to revoke or suspend a certificate may be appealed to
the regional trial court of the place where the Board holds office within fifteen (15) days
from receipt of the said decision or of the denial of the motion for reconsideration filed in
due time.

Sec. 24. Registration by Reciprocity. — No teacher of a foreign nationality shall be

admitted to the examination, or be given a certificate of registration or be entitled to any
of the rights and privileges provided under this Act; unless the country or state of which
he is a subject permits Filipino professional teachers to practice within its territorial limits
on the same basis as subjects or citizens of said country or state: Provided, that the
requirements of certification of teachers with said foreign state or country are
substantially the same as those required and contemplated under this Act: Provided, further,
That the laws of such state or country grant the same privilege to Filipino professional
teachers on the same basis as the subject or citizens of such foreign country or state.

Sec. 25. Roster of Professional Teachers. — A roster of professional teachers containing

the names and addresses of professional teachers, date of registration or issuance of
certificate, and other data which in the opinion of the Board may appear pertinent shall
be maintained. Copies of the roster shall be provided by the Commission to the Board,
the Department of Education, Culture and Sports, and the integrated and accredited
organization of professional teachers.

Sec. 26. Registration and Exception. — Two (2) years after the effectivity of this Act, no person
shall engage in teaching and/or act as a professional teacher as defined in this Act,
whether in the preschool, elementary or secondary level, unless he is a duly registered
professional teacher, and a holder of a valid certificate of registration and a valid
professional license or a holder of a valid special/temporary permit. Upon approval of the
application and payment of the prescribed fees, the certificate of registration and professional
license as a professional teacher shall be issued without examination as required in this Act
to a qualified applicant, who at the time of the approval of this Act, is:
(a) A holder of a certificate of eligibility as a teacher issued by the Civil Service

The Teaching Profession Module Page 14

 Commission and the Department of Education, Culture and Sports; or (b) A registered
professional teacher with the National Board for Teachers under the Department of
Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 1006; or (c)
Not qualified under paragraphs one and two but with any of the following qualifications.
to wit: (1) An elementary or secondary teacher for five (5) years in good standing and a holder
of Bachelor of Science in Education or its equivalent; or (2) An elementary or secondary
teacher for three (3) years in good standing and a holder of a master's degree in education
or its equivalent. Provided, That they shall be given two (2) years from the organization of
the Board for professional teachers within which to register and be included in the roster
of professional teachers: Provided, further, That those incumbent teachers who are not
qualified to register without examination under this Act or who, albeit qualified, were
unable to register within the two-year period shall be issued a five- year temporary or special
permit from the time the Board is organized within which to register after passing the
examination and complying with the requirements provided this Act and be included in the
roster of professional teachers: Provided, furthermore, That those who have failed the
licensure examination for professional teachers shall be eligible as para-teachers and as such,
shall be issued by the Board a special or temporary permit, and shall be assigned by the
Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) to schools as it may determine under
the circumstances.

ARTICLE IV PROVISIONS RELATIVE TO THE PRACTICE OF THE TEACHING PROFESSION

Sec. 27. Inhibitio Against the Practice of the Teaching Profession. — Except as otherwise
allowed under this Act, no person shall practice or offer to practice the teaching
profession in the Philippines or be appointed as teacher to any position calling for a teaching
position without having previously obtained a valid certificate of registration and a valid
professional license from the Commission.

Sec. 28. Penal Provisions. — The following shall be punishable by a fine of not less than
Five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) nor more than Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) or
imprisonment of nor less than six (6) months nor more than five (5) years, or both, at the
discretion of the court: (a) Any person who practices the teaching profession in the Philippines
without being certified in accordance with the provisions of this Act; (b) Any person who
represents or attempts to use as his own certificate of registration that of another; (c) Any
person who gives any false, or fraudulent evidence of any kind to the Board or any member
thereof in obtaining a certificate of registration as teacher; (d) Any person who impersonates
any registrant of the same or different name; (e) Any person who uses a revoked or
suspended certificate of registration; (f) Any person who, in connection with his name,
otherwise assumes, uses or advertises any title or description tending to convey or conveys
the impression that he is a teacher without holding a valid certificate; and (g) Any person who
violates or who abets the violation of any of the provisions of this Act. The penalty of fine or
imprisonment or both, as provided in this section, shall also apply to any school official who
shall cause or be responsible for the commission of any of the above-enumerated acts. Sec.

29. Appropriations. — Such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this
Act shall be included in the 1996 General Appropriations Act and thereafter.

Sec. 30. Implementing Guidelines. — The Board shall formulate and adopt the necessary
guidelines for the effective implementation of the provisions of this Act within sixty (60) days
of its approval. The Board shall submit to both Committees on Education, Arts, and Culture;
and the Committees on Civil Service and Professional Regulation of the Senate and House
of Representatives, copies of the implementing rules and guidelines within

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 thirty (30) days after its promulgation. Any violation of this section shall render the
official/s concerned liable under Republic Act No. 6713, otherwise known as the "Code of
Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees" and other pertinent
administrative and/or penal laws.

Sec. 31. Transitory Provision. — All incumbent teachers in both the public and private
sector not otherwise certified as professional teachers by virtue of this Act, shall be given
(5) years temporary certificates from the time the Board for Professional Teachers is
organized within which to qualify as required by this Act and be included in the roster of
professionals. Provided, however, That the Professional Board Examination for Teachers
(PBET) shall still be administered by the Civil Service Commission and the Department of
Education, Culture and Sports for the year 1995.

Sec. 32. Separability Clause. — If, for any reason, any section or provision of this Act or
the application of such section or provision to any person or circumstance is declared
unconstitutional or invalid, no other section or provision of this Act shall be affected thereby.

Sec. 33. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, rules
and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 34. Effectivity Clause — This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its
complete publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general
circulation. Approved: December 16, 1994

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 Module 1 The Teaching Profession

Chapter one dwells on the teaching profession. Lesson 1 discusses the

Teaching as a vocation

Vocation comes from

the Latin word “vocare”
which means to call.
Based on the
etymology of the word,
vocation, therefore,
means a call. If there is a
call, there must be a
caller and someone who
is called. There must also
be a response.
For
Christians, the Caller is
God Himself.
For our brother and sister Muslims, Allah. Most often, when people use the word
“vocation”, they refer to a religious vocation. Vocation includes other big callings
like marriage and single blessedness. It does not only refer to a religious vocation.
It can also refer to a call to do something like to teach, to heal the sick. Whatever is our
calling or station in life, the call is always to serve. The fact that you are now in the
College of Education signifies that you said YES to the call to teach. Perhaps you
never dreamt to become a teacher! But here you are now preparing to become one!
Teaching must be your vocation, your calling. May this YES response remain a YES and
become even firmer through the years.

Teaching as a mission

The word mission

comes from the Latin
word “mission” which
means to “send”. The
Webster’s New
Collegiate Dictionary
defines mission as “ task
assigned”. You are sent
to accomplish an
assigned task.

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 The phrase “mission accomplished” suggests that you were sent to do an
assign task, a mission and so if you faithfully accomplish the assigned task, you
proclaim “mission accomplished”. You responded to the call to be a teacher and
so your mission in the world is to teach. The task entrusted to you in this world.
These are how vocation and mission are related. You were called for a purpose,
i.e. to accomplish a mission on earth which is to teach.
If it is your assigned task then naturally you’ve got to prepare yourself
for it. From now on you cannot take your studies for granted! Your four years
of pre- service preparation will equip with the knowledge, skills, and attitude
to become an effective teacher. However, never commit the mistake of
culminating your mission preparation at the end of the four-year pre-service
education. You have embarked in a mission that calls for a continuing
professional development. As the saying goes “once a teacher, forever a
student.”

Flowing from your uniqueness, you are expected to contribute to the

betterment of this world in your own unique way. Your unique and most
significant contribution to the humanization of life on earth is in the field for
which you are prepared- teaching.

To teach is to do all of these and more! To teach is to influence every

child entrusted in your care to become better and happier because life
becomes more meaningful. To teach is to help the child become more human.

Teaching is indeed your mission:

- If you are doing it not only for the pay but also for service.

- If you keep on teaching out of love. It’s a mission.

- If you are committed to teaching even if it means letting go of

other activities.

- If you remain teaching even though nobody recognizes your efforts,

- It makes you get excited

- If your concern is success plus faithfulness, it’s a mission.