EDCOM II urges DepEd to fix process in hiring teachers to avoid expertise’s ‘mismatch’

Summary

The transcript highlights a significant issue in the Philippine education system: a mismatch between teachers' expertise and their assigned subjects. Teachers with majors like history are often tasked with teaching mathematics, leading to a learning crisis. The discussion emphasizes the need for better alignment between teacher training and their teaching assignments. Efforts are underway, including forming a technical working group with the Civil Service Commission and DepEd, to address this issue and ensure that teachers are well-equipped to educate students in their areas of expertise.

Takeaways

• 📚 There is a significant mismatch between the expertise of teachers and their teaching load in the Philippines.
• 🏫 Teachers with majors in one subject are often required to teach unrelated subjects, leading to a learning crisis.
• 🗣️ Teachers have expressed concerns about their ability to teach subjects outside their area of expertise.
• 📊 A study revealed that only 36% of teachers felt confident in their knowledge of Mathematics, which they were teaching to students.
• 🤝 The government is working with the Department of Education (DepEd), Civil Service Commission, and other bodies to address the issue.
• 📝 The hiring process by DepEd is criticized for being somewhat 'blind' to the specific subject expertise of teachers.
• 🎓 There's a call for better alignment between teacher education and the subjects they will teach in schools.
• 📈 The mismatch in teacher expertise and teaching load is considered a waste of resources and detrimental to student learning.
• 📖 The need for a seamless coordination between educational institutions, regulatory bodies, and the DepEd is emphasized.
• 📋 There's a push for legal amendments to better reflect the current curriculum and teacher training in the Licensure Examination for Teachers.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the transcript regarding the Philippine education system?

The main issue discussed is the mismatch between teachers' expertise and their teaching load, where teachers with majors in one subject are often required to teach different subjects for which they may not be qualified.

Why is the mismatch of teachers' expertise and teaching load considered a problem?

The mismatch is considered a problem because it affects the quality of education students receive. Teachers who are not proficient in the subjects they are teaching may not be able to effectively educate their students.

What is the role of the Department of Education (DepEd) in addressing this issue?

DepEd is involved in hiring teachers and is being asked to ensure that the hiring process matches teachers with the appropriate subject specializations. They are working with other agencies to resolve the mismatch issue.

What does the transcript suggest about the current hiring practices of DepEd?

The transcript suggests that DepEd's hiring practices are somewhat blind to the subject specializations of teachers, which leads to the mismatch problem. The hiring process does not seem to prioritize expertise in the subjects that teachers are expected to teach.

How is the mismatch affecting the learning outcomes of students?

The mismatch is affecting learning outcomes by potentially leading to substandard teaching in subjects that the teacher is not proficient in. This can result in students not receiving the proper education they need.

What is the role of the Civil Service Commission in this issue?

The Civil Service Commission is part of the technical working group formed to address the issue of teacher expertise mismatch. They are working with DepEd and other stakeholders to improve the hiring process.

What is the connection between the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and this issue?

CHED is responsible for the curriculum of teacher education programs. The transcript mentions that there is a need for alignment between CHED's curriculum and the hiring requirements of DepEd to ensure that teacher training matches the needs of the education system.

Why is there a need for an amendment to the law governing the Licensure Examination for Teachers?

There is a need for an amendment because the current law does not align with the actual curriculum and specializations of teacher education programs, leading to a disconnect between what teachers are trained in and what they are tested on for licensure.

What is the significance of the study mentioned in the transcript that surveyed teachers about Mathematics?

The study is significant because it highlights the gap in teachers' content knowledge, with only 36% of teachers answering questions correctly at a level suitable for teaching students. This underscores the severity of the mismatch issue.

What steps are being taken to improve the situation according to the transcript?

The transcript mentions the formation of a technical working group, collaboration between DepEd, the Civil Service Commission, and other stakeholders, and the push for law amendments to better align teacher training with hiring requirements.