The Philippine Normal University (PNU), through the College of Flexible Learning and e-PNU (CFlex), initiated the 6-day orientation and webinar for DepEd-DOST scholars. The event was a national training program for the second batch of newly-hired teachers under the Scholarship Program of Republic Act No. 10612, otherwise known as “Fast-Tracked S&T Scholarship Act of 2013.”

(Dr. Diosdado M. San Antonio delivering his message)

The goal of the program is to help both licensed and non-licensed teachers under the said scholarship in their professional development as public school teachers. This is in support of the government’s objective to strengthen the quality of education in the country through the support of the Department of Science and Technology-Science Education Institute’s (DOST-SEI) Junior Level Science Scholarship (JLSS).

Through the program, scholars are required to finish teacher training under the guidance of PNU and serve as Science-Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) teachers for a minimum of two years in any public or private high school in the country, preferably in their respective hometowns. To ensure the success of the program, the Department of Education (DepEd) will give assistance in job placement and hiring of qualified graduates with a starting salary equivalent to that of a Special Science Teacher 1 position at the Philippine Science High School.

(Dr. Runvi V. Manguerra delivering his message)

(PNU President, Dr. Bert J. Tuga delivering his message)

(CFLeX Dean, Dr. Celia Ilanan giving the background information of the event)

(CFLeX Deputy Dean, Prof. Lovely Albania discussing the design of the training program)

(Dr. Celina Sarmiento discussing the program monitoring and evaluation)

The event was made possible through the combined efforts of Dr. Diosdado San Antonio, Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction of DepEd; Dr. Bert J. Tuga, PNU President; Dr. Jennie V. Jocson, PNU Vice President for Academics; Dr. Celia Ilanan, Dean of CFlex; Prof. Lovely Airein D. Albania, Deputy Dean of CFlex; and Dr. Celina P. Sarmiento, Training Co-Director.

The webinar was conducted in partnership with DepEd Officials, Dr. Runvi Manguerra, Teacher Education Council (TEC) Executive Director, Mr. Jayson Peñafiel, and Ms. Donnabel Bihasa. Distinguished partners include DOST Officials, Ms. Ma. Daisy Demoni, Supervising SRS of the S&T Scholarship Division of DOST, Ms. Shara Torres, Ruby Caroliza D. Laña, and Ms. Mary Angelica Palomo.

The 6-day webinar will be held on three consecutive weeks from September 4-5, September 11-2, and September 18-19, 2020.