EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session
SENATE 
S. B. No. 2312
FILED
NO’bX
Sluts
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE TEACHER EDUCATION FOR ACHIEVERS PROGRAM TO 
IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF TEACHERS IN THE PHILIPPINES, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Teachers are one of the most influential and powerful forces for equity, 
access and quality in education and key to sustainable global 
development” - UNESCO New Delhi Director Eric Fait (2019)
The Asian Development Bank in its Brief No. 154 (2020) reported that millions 
of children are attending school without achieving even basic learning outcomes. 
Hence, a great deal of policy attention has turned to teaching practices, as 
teaching practice is a key determinant of student learning.
The dismal rankings of the Philippines in various international assessments 
namely the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in 2018, 
Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) and Trends in International 
Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) both in 2019, revealed a learning crisis in the 
country despite numerous reforms in our education system. The results could be 
attributed to several factors including individual and household factors; school inputs 
such as curriculum, learning environment and community support, and more 
importantly, the quality of teachers and the competence to teach our learners.
To address the learning crisis and respond to the call of examining the 
effectiveness of teacher certification system as well as the quality of graduate 
education for teachers, this bill seeks to establish the Teacher Education for Achievers


(TEACH) program by providing incentives to scholars in order to attract the brightest 
candidates to get their training from the best tertiary education institutions in the 
country. Incentives include full tuition and other fees, living expenses, book 
allowance, relocation allowance, medical insurance, and licensure review support, 
among others.
In addition, the bill provides that TEACH scholars will be mentored by highly 
competent faculty and professionals. To allay fears of not getting a job after 
graduation, the bill ensures that scholars have a guaranteed teaching position in 
our public school system.
Through this bill, this Representation hopes to produce a well-trained and 
qualified teaching workforce in the country in order to improve the learning 
outcomes of Filipino students. Thus, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
SONNY ANGARA


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Third Regular Session
SENATE 
S. B. No. 2312
FILED
¥NDEX
BILLS
Introduced by Senator SONNY ANGARA
AN ACT
ESTABLISHING THE TEACHER EDUCATION FOR ACHIEVERS PROGRAM TO 
IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF TEACHERS IN THE PHILIPPINES, 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
1 
CHAPTER I
2 
GENERAL PROVISIONS
3 
SECTION 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "Teacher Education
4 
for Achievers (TEACH) Act of2021."
5 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - The State recognizes the invaluable role of
6 
teachers as agents of constructive social, economic, moral, intellectual, cultural and
7 
political change in school and the community, within the context of national policies.
8 
To this end, the State promotes and uplifts the image of teaching professionals as a
9 
source of national pride. It is likewise declared that in order to protect and promote
10 
the right of all citizens to quality education at ail levels, the State shall prioritize
11 
accessible and quality teacher education, learning and development, and placement
12 
and professionalization of teaching professionals.
13 
To implement this, the State shall provide scholarships to qualified applicants
14 
to enable them to pursue education and training in the areas of learning and education
15 
and to provide incentives for them to be teachers in the public primary and secondary
16 
school system, including Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Senior
17 
High School (SHS), Special Education (SPED), wherever public interest may require.


1 
CHAPTER II
2 
ESTABLISHING THE TEACHER EDUCATION FOR ACHIEVERS PROGRAM
3 
SEC. 3. Establishment of the Teacher Education for Achievers
4 
Program. - The Teacher Education for Achievers (TEACH) Program, v/hich shall
5 
provide quality pre-service teacher education, is hereby established. It shall ensure
6 
that future teachers are classroom-ready and contributors to improve learning
7 
outcomes by providing the best training, full financial and psychosocial support, and
8 
employment assistance to qualified grantees.
9 
SEC. 4. Approved Courses and Priority Programs. - Grantees shall pursue
10 
degrees in teacher education in the partner Teacher Education Institution (TEI), as
11 
identified and approved by the Department of Education (DepEd) as priority education
12 
degrees. For its initial implementation, the TEACH Program shall offer two tracks: (1)
13 
Certificate in Teaching Program (CTP) track - for those who are graduates of any
14 
bachelor's degree except in Education; and (2) Undergraduate Level track - for
15 
incoming third year college students. Grantees may pursue the completion of the
16 
appropriate degree from any of the following:
17 
(a) Bachelor of Early Childhood Education;
18 
(b) Bachelor of Special Education;
19 
(c) Bachelor of Elementary Education;
20 
(d) Bachelor of Secondary Education (major in any of the following: English,
21 
Biology, Chemistry, General Science, Mathematics, or Physics);
22 
(e) Bachelor of Science in Chemistry for Teachers;
23 
(f) Bachelor of Science in Mathematics for Teachers;
24 
(g) Bachelor of Science in Physics for Teachers;
25 
(h) Bachelor of Science in Biology for Teachers;
26 
(i) Certificate in Teaching Program or its equivalent; and
27 
(j) Similar degrees, as may be approved by the DepEd.
28 
SEC. 5. Qualifications. - The minimum qualifications that the applicants must
29 
possess to apply for the TEACH Program are:
30 
(a) Must be a Filipino citizen residing in the Philippines;


1 
(b)Must pass the qualifying examination system, comprised of the selection
2 
process and the aptitude test for teachers as well as the appropriate
3 
examination and assessment by the TEI;
4 
(c) Must have at least an 85% general weighted average or its equivalent in the
5 
degree that he or she is currently enrolled in or graduated from;
6 
(d) Must not have service obligations under other programs in conflict with the
7 
TEACH Program obligations.
8 
The DepEd shall promulgate and periodically review the qualification criteria of
9 
applicants for the TEACH Program.
10 
CHAPTER III
11 
PROGRAM COMPONENTS, INCENTIVES AND RETURN OF SERVICE
12 
SEC. 6. Key Components of the TEACH Program. - The TEACH Program
13 
shall be designed and structured to provide holistic support for the grantees, whether
14 
it be physical, psychosocial and academic, to help them towards their career as future
15 
teachers. This includes the following: (1) scholarship package outlined in Section 7
16 
hereof, (2) the provision of continuous mentorship and training and development to
17 
the TEACH Program grantees, based on their actual needs, (3) teaching position upon
18 
graduation, and (4) other incentives outlined in Section 10 hereof.
19 
The DepEd and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), through the
20 
Teacher Education Council, shall provide screening guidelines for highly competent
21 
faculty and professionals from the TEIs who will qualify and serve as mentors under
22 
this Program.
23 
SEC. 7. Scholarship Component of the TEACH Program. - TEACH Program
24 
grantees shall be eligible to receive the following:
25 
(a) Tuition, laboratory, miscellaneous and other related school fees,
26 
(b) Allowance for prescribed books, supplies, equipment;
27 
(c) Clothing or uniform allowance;
28 
(d) Transportation allowance or allowance for dormitory or boarding house
29 
accommodation, whichever is appropriate;
30 
(e) Graduation and related miscellaneous fees;
31 
(f) Relocation allowance, if applicable;


1 
(g) Professional Teachers board review fees and licensure fees; Provided, that the
2 
support shall only be limited to the first licensure examination of the scholar,
3 
taken within five years from graduation;
4 
(h) Annual medical and accident insurance, and related health reimbursements;
5 
and
6 
(i) Monthly living allowance.
7 
DepEd shall be responsible for the proper implementation and disbursement of the
8 
monies arising from this Section. Guidelines on proper disbursement of funds shall be
9 
issued within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act.
10 
SEC. 8. Conditions for the Grant of Scholarship. - Scholars accepted to the
11 
TEACH Program must execute a service contract, subject to the following:
12 
(a) Commitment to immediately pursue his or her pre-service teacher education
13 
program and must finish the entire program within the prescribed time frame
14 
and subject to the retention policies of the TEI; Provided, that the scholar may
15 
be allowed, for valid and justifiable reasons, to file for a leave of absence for
16 
one (1) academic period;
17 
(b) Commitment to teach full-time in the public primary and secondary education
18 
system for a period, as provided under this Act;
19 
(c) Commitment to repay the amounts disbursed pursuant to the terms of their
20 
service contract, if the grantee drops out from the approved degree program
21 
where grantee is currently enrolled in; and
22 
(d) Commitment to all the other terms and conditions of the scholarship, as
23 
provided under this Act and as may be prescribed in the implementing rules
24 
and regulations.
25 
Failure to comply with the terms and conditions of the service contract will result
26 
in the full repayment of the scholarship monies and penalties, as applicable, within an
27 
approved period.
28 
SEC. 9. Service Obligations. - As their Return of Service ("ROS"), the TEACH
29 
Program grantees shall teach full-time in the public primary and secondary education
30 
system for at least one (1) year for each year of the scholarship or a fraction thereof,
31 
in a public school primary or secondary school, as may be approved by the DepEd;
32 
Provided, that the DepEd shall not consider practicum teaching as return service under


1 
this provision. These service obligations may be amended, subject to the service
2 
contract, as approved by the DepEd.
3 
SEC. 10. Incentives. - Successful TEACH Program grantees shall be entitled to
4 
the following incentives;
5 
(a) Scholarships in identified TEIs for the approved courses and priority programs
6 
under Section 4 of this Act;
7 
(b) Eligibility for immediate hiring subject to passing the Licensure Examination for
8 
Teachers (LET) within five (5) years after their date of hiring;
9 
(c) A teacher position in a public primary or secondary school with a starting salary
10 
grade equivalent to Teacher III;
11 
(d) Receipt of appropriate salaries and other benefits for services rendered under
12 
the mandatory job placement as ROS under Section 10 (c) of this Act; and
13 
(e) A one-time relocation allowance, should he/she be assigned in a place other
14 
than his/her permanent residence.
15 
(f) Continued teacher education and training through the scholarships granted
16 
under Republic Act No. 10533 or the "Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013".
17 
CHAPTER IV
18 
IMPLEMENTATION
19 
SEC. 11. Program Recruitment Plan. - The DepEd and CHED, through the
20 
Teacher Education Council ("TEC") created under Republic Act No. 7784, shall develop
21 
an annual implementation plan which will include a thorough teacher demand analysis
22 
and recruitment campaign to attract incoming undergraduate students and program
23 
shifters to the Program.
24 
SEC. 12. Selection of Eligible Teacher Education Institution. - TEACH
25 
Program grantees may only complete their approved course/program under Section 4
26 
of this Act through eligible partner TEIs. A public or private TEI may be eligible for
27 
partnership/coverage under this Program, subject to compliance with any of the
28 
following conditions:
29 
(a) must have its teacher education program accredited as a Center of Excellence
30 
level, or
31 
(b) must have its teacher education program accredited as a FAAP Level IV, or


1 
(c) must have a BLEPT passing rate of at least 75% passing rate in six of the last
2 
ten years.
3 
The TEI shall be subject to a service partnership contract that will outline the terms
4 
and conditions of its coverage under this Program.
5 
SEC. 13. Mandates of the Department of Education (DepEd). - The
6 
DepEd shall be the lead implementing agency of the provisions of this Act. It shall
7 
establish a TEACH Program Management Unit that shall be responsible for the
8 
evaluation, award-giving, and monitoring and evaluation of all scholarship grants and
9 
awardees; Providedadministrative expenses must not exceed five percent (5%)
10 
of the total budget per year.
11 
DepEd shall ensure hiring of qualified graduates under this Program as public-
12 
school teachers with the incentives outlined under Section 10 of this Act, and
13 
coordinating the same with the Civil Sen/ice Commission (CSC) and the Department
14 
of Budget and Management (DBM). DepEd shall provide forward estimates of teacher
15 
needs for every specialization and level to help in mapping out the scholar recruitment
16 
plan under Section 11. It shall coordinate with its regional offices to ensure regional
17 
support and coordination with other offices in the implementation of this program;
18 
Providedadditional staff will be provided to DepEd regional offices in support of
19 
the Program, as necessary. The DepEd, through the TEC, shall ensure that the policies
20 
for the program are supported by relevant stakeholders and shall ensure the
21 
continuous monitoring and evaluation, including the impact of hiring of teaching
22 
professionals facilitated through Section 8 of Republic Act No. 10533 or the "Enhanced
23 
Basic Education Act of 2013" and Republic Act No. 10612 or the Fast-Tracked S8iT
24 
Scholarship Act of 2013.
25 
SEC. 14. Mandates of the Commission on Higher Education. - CHED shall
26 
set the standards for and validation of the qualifications of partner TEIs and continue
27 
to monitor the eligibility of the partner TEIs, to ensure the Program's effective and
28 
efficient implementation. CHED shall submit the necessary information to DepEd to
29 
help with the implementation of this Program. It shall continue to improve and uplift
30 
the quality standards for TEIs and higher education to expand the number of eligible
31 
TEIs for the TEACH Program.


1 
CHED shall take the lead in coordinating with the Unified Student Financial
2 
Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) Board under Republic Act No.
3 
10931, to ensure complementarity and harmonization with this Act. CHED shall ensure
4 
that the scholarships for in-service teacher education under Section 10(f) are made
5 
available to the Program grantees.
6 
SEC. 15. Mandates of the Teacher Education Council. - The TEC shall
7 
provide multi-stakeholder support for the TEACH Program in determining the policy,
8 
monitoring and evaluation assistance. It shall spearhead the creation of a monitoring
9 
and evaluation plan, including an impact evaluation study to be initiated in the fifth
10 
year of the TEACH Program and every two years thereafter, including an outcome
11 
tracking system for the scholar-graduates. From the impact evaluation study, it shall
12 
make recommendations regarding teacher education policies, planning and teacher
13 
education development projects.
14 
SEC. 16. Mandates of the Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs). -
15 
Partner TEIs shall help in the administration of the Program in their respective schools,
16 
subject to the terms and conditions of their commitments under Section 12 of this Act.
17 
Every TEI is tasked with the rigorous selection and monitoring of the mentors for the
18 
grantees of the TEACH Program. It shall ensure pre-service teacher education that is
19 
innovative and responsive, taking into account student-learning-centered professional
20 
teaching of knowledge and skills for educators who will have a strong sense of
21 
professionalism, moral character and with strong respect for diversity, and ethnic
22 
cultures, concern for society, and international vision.
23 
CHAPTER V
24 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
25 
SEC. 17. Appropriations. - The amount necessary for the implementation of
26 
this Act shall be charged against the available appropriations of the DepEd, under the
27 
current General Appropriations Act. Thereafter, the amount necessary for its
28 
continuous implementation shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations.
29 
SEC. 18. Other Sources of Funding. - Other sources of funds such as grants,
30 
donations, collections and other forms of assistance from public or private entities,
31 
whether domestic or foreign, may be tapped and facilitated by the DepEd in relation
32 
to the implementation of the TEACH Program.


1 
SEC. 19. Review and Monitoring. - The DepEd, through the TEC, shall report
2 
to the President and Congress after the first five (5) years, and every two (2) years
3 
thereafter, on the implementation of the provisions of this Act and shall submit
4 
recommendations for its improvement. All the TEC government agencies are also
5 
tasked to monitor the implementation of the TEACH Program as well as the actual
6 
hiring in public schools of the TEACH Program graduates, and to undertake such
7 
studies and include these in their respective annual reports.
8 
SEC. 20. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). - Within sixty (60)
9 
days from the effectivity of this Act, the DepEd through the TEC, and in consultation
10 
with the, CHED, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, CSC and DBM,
11 
shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations for the effective implementation
12 
of this Act.
13 
SEC. 21. Separability Clause. - If for any section or provision of this Act is
14 
declared unconstitutional, the other section or provision not so declared shall
15 
continue to be in full force and effect.
16 
SEC. 22. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations
17 
and other issuances or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with this Act, are hereby
18 
repealed or modified accordingly.
19 
SEC. 23. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its
20 
complete publication in the Official Gazette and in at least one (1) newspaper of
21 
general circulation.
Approved,