SLSU-TO Faculty Participate in Zonal Public Hearing on Pre-Service Teacher Education Curricula

Faculty members from Southern Leyte State University – Tomas Oppus Campus (SLSU-TO) joined educators and curriculum specialists across the Visayas for the Zonal Public Hearing (ZPH) on the Development of Models of Pre-service Teacher Education Curricula and Programs – Phase 2: Specialization Components and Specialized Programs. The event, held at the University of San Carlos, Talamban Campus, Cebu City, was organized by the Research Institute for Teacher Quality (RITQ) in collaboration with the Teacher Education Council (TEC) and the Commission on Higher Education Technical Panels for Teacher Education (CHED-TPTE).

Representing SLSU were faculty members from Tomas Oppus, including Dr. Norla Grace A. Betarmos, Dean of the Faculty of Teacher Education, and program heads Dr. Vicente Betarmos Jr., Dr. Norlyn Borong, Dr. Criselyn Sescon, and Dr. Claire Goda from the same faculty. They participated in discussions and consultations focused on rethinking specializations in various education programs. These programs covered Early Grades, Special Needs Education, Secondary Education, Career Technical Education, and several Certificate Programs.

The ZPH sought to gather feedback and insights from higher education institutions (HEIs) and teacher education institutions (TEIs) on proposed degree program descriptions, frameworks, outcomes, and course listings. Participants were divided into morning and afternoon sessions, covering a wide range of education majors, including Science, Mathematics, English, Filipino, Social Studies, Early Childhood Education, and Special Needs Education, among others. RITQ Director Dr. Brando C. Palomar emphasized the importance of stakeholder collaboration in ensuring that the revised teacher education curricula remain responsive to national standards and the evolving demands of the teaching profession.

Through this engagement, SLSU-Tomas Oppus reaffirmed its commitment to advancing teacher education quality and contributing to the national initiative of producing competent, ethical, and globally competitive educators. This initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education, which advocates for inclusive, equitable, and lifelong learning opportunities for all.