Bill seeks to limit the number of times aspiring teachers can take the LET
A bill filed in Congress aims to limit the number of times aspiring teachers can take the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) to three, after which they will be required to undergo a refresher course before retaking the test.
House Bill 8559 proposes to amend Republic Act 7836 or the Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994, which currently allows those who fail the LET to take it again without any restrictions.
The bill also seeks to expand the membership of the Board of Professional Teachers, which regulates and supervises the licensure examination, to include representatives from the Department of Education, the Commission on Higher Education, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and the private education sector.
The bill aims to address the issue of low LET passing rates, which have hovered around 30% in recent years, and improve the quality of Philippine education.
By limiting the number of times aspiring teachers can take the LET, we are raising our standards and ensuring that only those who are competent and qualified will enter the teaching profession. We are also providing them with an opportunity to improve their competencies and skills through a refresher course that will prepare them for the exam.
Expanding the Board’s membership will ensure that the licensing exam is more comprehensive, updated, and responsive to the needs and challenges of the education sector.
The bill’s explanatory note cited a study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, which found that the quality of teacher education programs in the country is “uneven and generally wanting.”
The study also recommended that the government should provide better support for pre-service teachers, such as scholarships, mentoring, and exposure to actual classroom settings, as well as improve the salaries and working conditions of teachers to attract and retain qualified and motivated individuals.
The bill is currently pending at the House committee on basic education and culture.