Three campuses of the Philippine Normal University have been designated as Teacher Education Centers of Excellence by the Teacher Education Council, a selection process that culminated with an announcement made on June 3, 2026, during the First Council Meeting for 2026. PNU Manila, PNU Mindanao, and PNU North Luzon join ten other Teacher Education Institutions that will bear the designation alongside all accompanying privileges, rights, and responsibilities, particularly in connection with elevating the Philippine education system as a whole.
Securing this prestigious designation requires Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) to undergo a strict vetting process mandated by Republic Act No. 11713, also known as the Excellence in Teacher Education Act. In accordance with Sections 5 and 6 of the law, the recognized schools distinguished themselves through exceptional performance in instruction, groundbreaking research, robust student support, future-educator training, and impactful community outreach—all of which were validated by documentary evidence and on-site field visits.
Teacher Education COEs are divided into two categories: National COEs—institutions expected to steer discussions on teacher education on a national scale through their best practices and capabilities—and Regional COEs—institutions that will be at the helm of movements to improve teacher education within their respective regions. As an affirmation of adherence to the highest standards in the field, PNU Manila led the list of National COEs, and PNU Mindanao also secured a spot on this list of notable institutions. Meanwhile, PNU North Luzon has been identified as one of the Regional COEs, joining other reputable teacher education institutions across various regions.
In a major milestone for teacher development, these recognized institutions are set to receive a robust suite of institutional benefits, official recognition, and targeted funding under Republic Act No. 11713, or the “Excellence in Teacher Education Act.”
The Teacher Education Council (TEC) will formally certify these designated COEs and publicize their status across official platforms, cementing their roles as regional and national benchmark institutions. Beyond prestige, Teacher Education COEs will be recipients of targeted financial support that will directly fuel collaborative educational research, instructional material innovation, and the modernization of facilities, while positioning these centers as regional knowledge-sharing hubs for community engagement and institutional mentoring. Crucially, the initiative also opens doors for incoming students to qualify for the Teacher Education Scholarship Program (TESP), securing vital financial aid to cultivate the nation’s next generation of top-tier educators.
The identified PNU campuses, together with their fellow COEs, will formally be recognized in September of this year, as announced by the TEC.
The Teacher Education Council is mandated to serve as the lead and central agency in developing, coordinating, and enhancing the Philippine teacher education system. The council is composed of several government agencies, namely: the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA), National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
