Equipping educators with capabilities for digital learning, the Philippine Normal University (PNU) intensifies partnership with the DepEd and CHED through competence-based trainings.

PNU is committed to provide technical support to these agencies via programs, projects and policies on teacher education curricula and training.

“This 2021, we are partnering with DepEd-National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP) for the Professional Development Program for Teachers, School Heads and Supervisors to upskill their professional competence following the expectations set by the Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers (PPST) which reflects the career progression of teachers, Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads (PPSSH), Philippine Professional Standards for Supervisors (PPSS).”

Dr. Bert Jazmin Tuga, PNU president, in a Zoom meeting in line PNU’s 129^th Universityhood Anniversary. 

Tuga, the youngest PNU president in history, added that PNU participated in meetings and workshops with DepEd, CHED, and Congress on Flexible Learning and Education in the New Normal. 

Meanwhile, PNU has been training the faculty members of other Teacher Education Institutions (TEI) and Higher Educational Institutions (HEI) on flexible learning and remote learning under the CHED Hi-Ed Bayanihan Program. The university also has self-initiated training programs courtesy of its different campuses and colleges participated by both teachers of basic education and higher education, locally and internationally.

Specifically, PNU assisted the following universities:

• Batanes State College
• Quirino State University
• Kalinga State University
• Isabela State University
• Eulogio Amang Rodriguez Institute of Science and Technology
• Rizal Technological University
• Polytechnic University of the Philippines
• Western Philippines University
• University of Eastern Philippines
• Marinduque State College
• Camiguin Polytechnic State College
• Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology
• Northern Mindanao State College of Science and Technology
• J.H. Cerilles State College
• Other private colleges where PNU campuses are located.

“The impact of these programs will not only target the needs of teachers during the pandemic but beyond,” said Tuga.

According to Tuga, PNU validated the modules of DepEd Schools Division – Marikina City. PNU will do the content and language conformance review of self-learning modules (SLM), TV/Radio Scripts of DepEd for Quarter 3.

Embracing Education 4.0

To prepare future graduates for work, universities and colleges must align their teaching with technological advancements. Education 4.0 is a desired approach that aligns itself with the emerging fourth industrial revolution that focuses on smart technology, artificial intelligence, and robotics. All of which now impact our everyday lives.  

Given the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, traditional concept of schooling, teaching, and learning is disrupted. For HEIs to continue to produce successful graduates, they must prepare their students for a world where these cyber-physical systems are prevalent across all industries. 

“We have to learn from the lessons of this pandemic in several aspects. We have to make necessary changes or innovations in curriculum and instruction, and university operations, among others,” Tuga said.

PNU has to fully integrate its Education 4.0 in all the aspects of university functions—instruction, research, extension, administration, and management.  

“PNU has started strengthening Distance Learning beyond the pandemic to give opportunities for others wherever they are in the country and the world to have access to PNU education and training. PNU continues to conduct high impact researches in education that will influence policy development and legislation in teacher education and education [in general],” Tuga said.

PNU’s College of Flexible Learning (CFLeX) functions as a degree and non-degree granting college that manages the University’s online undergraduate and graduate degree programs. 
Interested HEIs may avail of The Great Reset: PNU-CHED Collaborative Online Training on Flexible Learning.

Sustaining Leadership from Within

Former Philippine President Corazon C. Aquino once said that the Philippine Normal University is the heart of the public school system.

PNU has been serving its purpose as a public-service university while living its mandate as the National Center for Teacher Education by virtue of RA 964.

“We have to sustain our leadership in teacher education networks, locally and abroad, but not in the spirit of competition but collaboration, partnership, and mentoring, true to our mandate as NCTE,” Tuga emphasized.

Thinking proactively, Tuga also stated that PNU needs to develop an enhanced Faculty and Staff Development Program that will prepare them for the competencies of the future.

“We aim to enhance and innovate student, alumni and client services and to focus on e-governance and e-services to reach 100% client satisfaction through continuous improvement of physical facilities and infrastructure,” Tuga said.

PNU submitted a learning continuity plan and guiding framework to assist itself in combating the current challenges of the Philippines. It will be a work in progress as the country develops its system and its capacity to be of more assistance to CHED, DepEd, our teachers, and education leaders, ultimately to our students.

“At PNU, we believe in an internal review of where we are so that we can be of more assistance to our stakeholders. Our ongoing refinement of our curriculum to address the expectations of Education 4.0 and other national directives, allowed us to abruptly shift to Kaway Aralan sa Bagong Kadawyan (learning in the new normal), our response to the challenges brought by the pandemic. We see this new framework of teaching-learning delivery to be an institutional delivery of a new teacher education,” Tuga said.

Frontliners in Education

When asked about the challenges of education in the new normal, Tuga said that educators and education leaders should take advantage of technology in education.

Tuga also said that if not available or accessible, [available] resourcefulness should allow teachers and schools to bridge the learning gaps of students through alternatives tools or methods.

“You [teachers] have a very important task—educate the Filipino learners for nation building,” Tuga said when asked about his message to Filipino teachers who strive to make learning continuity possible.

Moreover, Tuga stressed that innovation in teaching is the key and the status quo in this time of pandemic now calls for new ways of teaching and learning. 

“Teachers have multifaceted roles in facilitating the learning of students, in school improvement, and in community development. We value the contributions of our teachers as frontliners in education during this pandemic,” Tuga said.

PNU’s 29^th Universityhood Anniversary features the following activities:

• Gawad Sulo 2021 composed of the launching of 10 Outstanding PNU Alumni Teachers and Presidential Meritorious Award, a recognition program for extraordinary performance of PNU Alumni Teachers, Outstanding Employees and Research Awards, and Eminent Alumni that recognizes the extraordinary performance of PNU Alumni 
• University Convocation where Senator Joel Villanueva, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Higher Education, Technical, and Vocational Education and member of the PNU Board of Regents, served as guest of honor.
• Student Summit 
• University Research Forum established to facilitate ongoing knowledge exchange and research on education among the PNU stakeholders
• Blessings of the New Finance Office

PNU is a second home of passionate and competent teachers who have helped shape the country for almost 120 years. As a repository of teacher training initiatives, PNU has empowered educators across the country to have unparalleled positive impact to society here and abroad.

About the Author

Aries Oliveros has written textbooks on grammar and creative nonfiction and is currently an executive assistant at the Office of the Executive Director of the Philippine Science High School System – Office of the Executive Director.

He was formerly Chief of the Curriculum and Instruction Division and adviser of the school paper The Central Scholar. He studied Bachelor of Secondary Education, Major in English at Philippine Normal University, Manila.