Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Councilor: DepEd should grab LET topnotchers
DAVAO City Councilor Ma. Belen Sunga-Acosta urged the Department of Education (DepEd) to create policies aimed at encouraging Licensure Exam for Teachers (LET) topnotchers to work in public schools.
In her privilege speech Tuesday, Acosta said this could be made possible by facilitating and fast tracking the inclusion of LET topnotchers in the public school teachers roster.
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Acosta also cited and commended this year's LET topnotchers from the University of Mindanao, Holy Cross of Davao College, and Ateneo de Davao University.
From the exams conducted on April 6, 2008, the results of which were released almost a month later on April 30, 2008, Teacher Training Institutions in Davao City produced the following topnotchers in the Elementary Level: Benjelita Laguidong Babao of the University of Mindanao - placed second at the national level, with a rating of 90.20%, while Nithel Fe Taguibolosan Cornelio of the Holy Cross of Davao College and Genelyn Ibanez Rosendo of the University of Mindanao both placed 10th with a rating of 87.20%.
In the Secondary (High School) Level, Edwin Oscar Ulgasan Gutierrez Jr. of the Ateneo de Davao University placed 8th with a rating of 88.00 percent.
"These four LET passers have shown that the education institutions in these parts of the country are at par, if not more outstanding, than some of the more prestigious education institutions in the country," Acosta said.
For the August 2007 LET results, out of 57,723 examinees in the Secondary level, only 16,811 or 29.12 percent passed. In the Elementary level, out of 66,709 teacher examinees, only 18,376 or 27.55 percent passed.
"This means that to top the examination or to be within the top 10 is indeed an achievement for which all Dabawenyos should be proud," she added.
However, Acosta bemoaned the long process that new teachers have to go through to find work.
"This representation thought all along that LET topnotchers automatically are given first priority in teacher positions in the public schools. However, I was apprised that even topnotchers still have to undergo the usual application procedure," Acosta said.
According to Acosta, who is also a member of the local school board, they hope that the policymakers in the head office of DepEd reconsider this and make measures that would entice and encourage Teacher's Board topnotchers to teach in the public schools where their talent and dedication are directly and urgently needed.
"I do not see why they still have to go through the usual outine when they have proven their mettle as topnotchers. It would serve the DepEd well as well as the Davao City School Board, and the constituency, that these bright young teachers find it easy to get into the roster of public school teachers, rather than be employed in private institutions, or join the brain drain and think of teaching in other countries," she said.
In the appointment of teachers, Acosta said those who top the licensure exams ought to be given priority through an "express lane" to ensure that DepEd, and in turn our public schoolteachers, get the best. (GLP)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pangasinan. For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (May 7, 2008 issue)
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