The Philippine Normal University (PNU) joined the Teacher Education Council’s (TEC) #GurongMayKalidad: Teacher Education Roadmap Caravan, held from September 22 to 25, 2026, at Saint Louis University (SLU) in Baguio City in celebration of National Teachers’ Month. The PNU Manila delegation was led by Dr. Celia M. Ilanan, Dean of the College of Alternative and Lifelong Learning (CALL), and Dr. Brando C. Palomar, Director of the Research Institute for Teacher Quality (RITQ). They were accompanied by support staff from the Office of the Vice President for Academics (OVPA) and RITQ, namely Mr. Gerald P. Santos (OVPA), Ms. Bea Angela L. Laya (OVPA), Mr. Iji Jen Imperial (RITQ), and Mr. Edrian Mangila (RITQ).

The four-day caravan convened teacher education institutions (TEIs), educators, researchers, education officials, and other stakeholders to advance a shared national framework for developing quality pre-service and in-service educators through workshop sessions and institutional booth exhibits aligned with the strategic direction of the Teacher Education Roadmap 2035.

The engagement follows TEC’s recent designation of PNU Manila as a National Center of Excellence in Teacher Education, positioning the university as a key TEI in “driving evidence-based reforms, fostering workforce development, and tackling systemic challenges affecting educational equity and learner outcomes.” Joining PNU Manila in the caravan activities were PNU Mindanao, also designated as a National Center of Excellence in Teacher Education, and PNU North Luzon, designated as a Regional Center of Excellence in Teacher Education. The campuses were represented by their respective academic officials: Executive Director and Provost Dr. Adelyne M. Costelo-Abrea and Dean Dr. Lyzyl L. Banuag of PNU Mindanao, alongside Executive Director and Provost Dr. Agnes S. Reyes and Dean Dr. Clemente M. Aguinaldo Jr. of PNU North Luzon.

Advancing the national teacher education agenda, the caravan opened on September 22 with welcome remarks from SLU President Rev. Fr. Gilbert B. Sales, CICM, followed by an opening message from TEC Director Dr. Adrian Lawrence P. Carvajal on behalf of the TEC Secretariat. Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong also delivered a message of support to the delegates from across the country. Drawing from his conversations with various rural and provincial communities, Mayor Magalong noted a prevailing sense of hopelessness regarding the country’s future and the common perception among Filipino learners that professional growth opportunities are more accessible abroad. Emphasizing the vital role of sustaining hope, he urged teachers and education leaders to help learners, colleagues, and their communities recognize the possibilities for a better future in the country.

The opening program also featured a comprehensive overview of the Teacher Education Roadmap 2035 presented by TEC Highly Technical Consultants Dr. Ester B. Ogena and Dr. Evelyn C. Cruzada. In addition, TEC representatives presented the Council’s ongoing initiatives and achievements, highlighting PNU’s active involvement in Research in Teacher Education (RITE), the Teacher Education Excellence Center (TEEC), and other initiatives related to its designation as a National Center of Excellence. Throughout the caravan, PNU delegates engaged in sessions covering artificial intelligence (AI) teaching assistants, student incentive systems, pre-service curriculum reframing, and cultural education. Parallel sessions also addressed in-service teacher development, career progression, digital tools, early literacy, and financial literacy, providing a collaborative platform for stakeholders to exchange innovative approaches in teacher education.

To further bring its programs and initiatives closer to education stakeholders, PNU mounted an institutional booth exhibit from September 24 to 25 alongside 17 public and private partner agencies of the TEC. The booth featured promotional materials highlighting accomplishments from PNU’s research projects and academic program innovations, complemented by flyers, booklets, policy briefs, and brochures detailing the University’s academic and professional development offerings. Over the one-and-a-half-day run, the exhibit engaged an estimated 200 visitors, consisting primarily of in-service teachers, TEI deans and faculty members, research directors, and graduate students.

Capping off its engagement on September 25, the PNU team, led by Dean Ilanan and Director Palomar, facilitated a collaborative session titled “Setting the Standards for Future-Ready Teachers and Education Leaders: A Participatory Co-Creation Workshop.” The workshop centered on examining the Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers (PPST), the Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads (PPSSH), and the Philippine Professional Standards for Supervisors (PPSS).

Discussions among more than 150 participants surfaced pressing concerns surrounding the realities on the ground for teachers and school leaders, highlighting how the implementation and relevance of the PPST—adopted and implemented since 2017—vary across diverse educational contexts. Rapid analysis of the workshop outputs identified specific domains in need of further enhancement, as well as standards that remain relevant and can be retained without major modifications. By bringing together voices from various levels of the education sector, PNU generated initial baseline evidence to inform the continuing review of the PPST and the broader development of standards for future-ready educators and leaders.

Ultimately, PNU’s active participation in the TEC caravan underscores its steadfast commitment to collaborating with national partners toward a shared vision: strengthening teacher education programs to develop high-quality Filipino educators.

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