ON DECEMBER 4, 2017 by virtue of the issuance of Department of Education (DepEd) Memorandum 198, s.2017, National Educators Academy of the Philippines (Neap) director John Arnold Siena was designated by DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones to act as officer-in-charge of the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities for teachers.
Just recently the DepEd, through the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP), has been granted accreditation by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) as service provider of CPD for teachers on December 12, 2017 after compliance to the provisions of Republic Act No. 10912, otherwise known as the CPD Act of 2016.
According to the press release found in its official website, the accreditation covers Central Office bureaus and services, Regional Offices and Schools Division Offices.
As an offshoot to the said accreditation, the training programs for teachers to be conducted by these DepEd Offices, which are free of charge, shall be given credit units provided that training designs are submitted to Neap and endorsed to and pre-evaluated by PRC 45 days prior to the training proper.
Not only that, Deped NEAP further negotiated with the Professional Regulatory Board for Teachers, and moved to ensure that teachers will receive pertinent CPD credit units for participating in their school-based Learning Action Cell (LAC) sessions.
It could be remembered that LAC is recognized as a K to 12 Basic Education Program school-based continuing professional development strategy for the improvement of teaching and learning.
The press release emphasized that the Schools Division Offices shall be tasked to submit a common LAC design to Neap which shall endorse the same to PRC for pre-evaluation and determination of credit units.
As provided by previous Deped issuances, funds for LACs may be charged against the schools’ maintenance and other operating expenses (MOOE), subject to the usual utilization rules and guidelines, and are therefore free of charge. A completion report shall also be sent to PRC at the end of the training program.
NEAP’s initiatives shall reinforce that public school teachers do not have to pay for and undergo trainings and seminars conducted by external PRC-accredited providers in order to earn CPD credit units.
Director Siena assured teachers in the field that Neap will continue to intensify its efforts to ensure that teachers are provided with relevant, updated and accessible CPD interventions.
He further said that funds shall be provided to DepEd’s Central Offices as well as to its bureaus and services and the field offices that implement programs relative to teacher training and professional development. Accordingly, LAC sessions shall be monitored for quality assurance, and a pool of learning facilitators shall support the training program activities and lead in LAC sessions for teachers.
Neap is also in the process of finalizing the Learning and Development System that shall define the processes and mechanism of providing CPD for all DepEd employees, with particular attention to teachers.
In closing, Director Siena pointed out that all these efforts aim to support the continuing professional development of teachers which should redound to their professional growth and improved teaching practices, and effective learning among our K to 12 learners.
This Corner has high hopes that all of these things shall be realized the soonest possible time.
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Director’s Cut:(This portion features the thoughts of Atty. Alberto T. Escobarte, CESO IV, Regional Director, DepEd Region 11 to all stakeholders and recipients of the efforts to improve the basic education). "Let me assure you that in the performance of my official duties and even my private acts will be guided and guarded by my Oath of Office, The Panunumpa ng Kawani ng Gobyerno, the Philippine Constitution and all the laws that govern our actions.”
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You can access Deped Updates, latest issuances, photos and other relevant information through our website: http://www.deped.gov.ph and our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/Deped.Philippines/. For queries, complains and other concerns for the different schools divisions email them to davao.city@deped.gov.ph, davao.delsur@deped.gov.ph, davao.delnorte@deped.gov.ph, tagum.city@deped.gov.ph, panabo.city@deped.gov.ph, igacos@deped.gov.ph, davao.oriental@deped.gov.ph, digos.city@deped.gov.ph, mati.city@deped.gov.ph and compostela.valley@deped.gov.ph