To be part of the educational organization as a teacher requires a lot of qualifications. One has to: (a) surpass the educational requirements through years of studying, (b) get a license by passing the eligibility examination, (c)hone his skills through experience, (d) undergo specialized trainings related to his work, and (e) possess an essential written and oral communication skills. These are the prerequisites to become conceptually, skillfully and technically equipped as an educator. This proves that to become part of an educational institution and prove his worth of becoming a professional teacher, one has to keep certain competencies. But being a professional one doesn’t lie merely on the credentials. Some well-educated people having graduated from prestigious schools with exceptional courses and keeps various certificates of trainings may not become professional in their actions and dealing with people.
Competency on the other hand is progressively being used in education circles today. It is a description of one’s ability and a measure of one’s performance.Once in the field of teaching, a competent teacher is now described by his well execution of tasks. He must know how to function under stressful situations. He is flexible and can manage change in the last minute. A competent teacher makes the most of all teachable moments, and those you never know when it’ll happen. This teacher makes learning fun and relevant for all. A competent teacher does not come from a university with a degree, instead a teacher becomes competent through years of experience as a teacher. You’ll know you have met a competent teacher when you walk into the classroom and you feel the teacher has everything in control and the environment is positive and comfortable. Certain competency is needed to have a well-managed classroom while a disorganized classroom with non-performing pupils could be blame to an incompetent teacher.
To become a professional, one has to be competent but not all competent people can be considered as professionals. Professionalism and competency goes beyond the proof of supporting papers. Documents can be tampered but not the behavior. Professional and competent people should live and act as one. How you deal with it is more important that you know about it. Having such professional qualities will make a person be valued as even more competent one more than others.
Professionality and competency are not merely justified through written documents as proofs. But as a part of evaluation processes, evidences should be provided in order to support the execution of one’s performance in a grading an effective educator or teacher in their previously used CB-PAST and now the currently utilized RPMS. The real assessment is how the person proves his qualities as professional and competent throughout his endeavors. It’s a day to day basis and these skills cannot be acquired overnight but through determination, commitment and hard work, anybody can be one. Continuous learning by attending graduate studies, trainings and seminars and constructive experiences can mold an educator to be even more professional and competent as one should be.
By: MRS.GRACE S. PONCE | Teacher III | Culis Elementary School | Culis, Hermosa, Bataan
