Being an educator is an incessant and a never ending process of giving instruction in response to the demands of the society. The teacher is considered the co-learner of a child and not just an educator because they have a large impacton the physical, intellectual moral and spiritual development of students.
Before, many people viewed education as a process that produced academically-smart students. Today, more people view it as a tool in order to produce skilled workers who will develop the economic and industrial components of the country.
This is what the Philippines is undergoing right now—a major overhaul in the system of education as the Department of Education (DepED) implemented the K-12 curriculum 3 years later. Under this new curriculum, Technology and Livelihood Education or TLE is introduced to junior high school and will also be introduced in senior high school since TLE is the major component of K-12. It’s a mandatory Technical Education and Skills Development Authority or TESDA program for all students.
Future Filipino students will be more ready and equipped to compete globally according to DepED. That this new curriculum is geared towards the development of a holistically competitive Filipinos with the 21st century. Hence, this chaos also demands for more skilled and well-trained teachers because not just any TLE teacher can teach tech-voc. According to TESDA guidelines, one can only teach tech-voc if he possesses an NC or National Certificate. This is why TLE teachers are encouraged to enroll in TESDA training programs and be assessed by TESDA.
The success of the teacher is said to be measured by the achievements of his students. Does the same thing goes with ‘The success of the students depends on the achievements of the teacher’?
Consider these 3 basic principles that govern and affect the design and implementation of teaching tech-voc as a component of K-12: First, it must be implemented with adequate and functional facilities such as classrooms, shops, laboratories, equipments, instructional materials and tools. Second, it must be supported and guided by teachers who attended TESDA trainings and already have their NC. Third, it must be designed depending on the needs and demands of the community.
Applying for Assessment and Certification in TESDA is not only the central basis for the success of this new curriculum but an extra learning that the teacher may share to his high school students.
By: Alma R. Garcia | Head Teacher III | Bonifacio Camacho National High School | Abucay, Bataan
