Teacher quality champion Senator Gatchalian elected Senate President
Senator Gatchalian receiving his honorary Doctor of Education degree from the Philippine Normal University in February 2023 (Photo courtesy of Sen. Gatchalian’s Facebook page)
The Research Institute for Teacher Quality (RITQ) congratulates Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian after formally being elected as Senate President last June 17, 2026. Over the last half-decade, RCTQ, now RITQ, has worked with Senator Gatchalian on various reform initiatives to improve teacher quality, from understanding on-the-ground practices and contexts to proposing national legislation for quality education in the Philippines.
Among Sen. Gatchalian’s key roles in advancing education reforms were chairing the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture during the 18th Congress (2019 to 2022) and the Senate Committee on Basic Education during the 19th Congress (2022 to 2025). Chairing these committees, Senator Gatchalian served concurrently as co-chairperson to the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II).
Establishing a partnership towards teacher quality
RITQ’s work with Sen. Gatchalian stemmed from its engagement with the Malacañang-led Technical Working Group for Teacher Quality (TWG-TQ), which sought workable initiatives to improve teacher quality in the Philippines. Among the directions pursued by the TWG-TQ was the recommendation to amend Republic Act 7784, or the law that created the Teacher Education Council (TEC). Supporting this direction, RITQ, then called the Research Center for Teacher Quality (RCTQ), released its Policy Note on strengthening the TEC and helped draft both the House and Senate versions of the proposed legislation for the said purpose.
The proposed bill eventually became law in April 2022 as RA 11713, the Excellence in Teacher Education Act. In a message, Senator Gatchalian acknowledged the contributions of RCTQ in “helping policymakers come up with meaningful legislation and policy,” with RCTQ “being a partner of the Committee on Education…[in] crafting a very important reform legislation.”
Senate approval of the bicameral report on Senate Bill No. 2152, which was later enacted into law as Republic Act No. 11713, or the Excellence in Teacher Education Act
Pushing for reforms championing Philippine education
Stakeholder discussion on streamlining non-teaching functions within public schools facilitated by EDCOM II, with its former co-chairperson, Sen. Sherwin T. Gatchalian, and former Standing Committee on Teacher Education member and former RITQ Director Dr. Jennie V. Jocson (Photo courtesy of EDCOM II)
As RCTQ transitioned to become an institute in 2024, the Research Institute for Teacher Quality continued its linkage with the Office of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, through partnerships with the TEC and EDCOM II, in conducting studies and providing technical assistance on concerns related to teacher and teaching quality,
In February 2024, RITQ served as a resource in an EDCOM II consultation meeting aimed at streamlining non-teaching functions in public schools. In April 2024, a letter signed by Senator Gatchalian was sent to more than 1,500 teacher education institutions (TEIs) nationwide, requesting their participation in the RITQ-facilitated national profiling study of TEIs and teacher educators.
RITQ also submitted position papers and attended TWG meetings on the then-proposed teacher career progression bill, which was later enacted as RA 12288 or the Career Progression System for Public School Teachers and School Leaders Act, and on the proposed bill amending the Teacher Professionalization Act.
Empowering stakeholders towards sustaining reforms
Delegation from the Philippine Normal University, led by PNU President Dr. Bert J. Tuga, and RITQ representatives, Mr. Mikkey Mari M. Tuazon and Mr. Vincent Reuben E. Valientes, led by Dr. Brando C. Palomar and Dr. Ma. Teresa Manicio-Tembrevilla, in a photo opportunity with Senator Sherwin T. Gatchalian
Senator Gatchalian also expressed his support for the TEC-led reframing of the pre-service teacher education curriculum. In a symposium held in January 2025, he emphasized that “improving the quality of education in the country goes hand in hand with producing excellent teachers.” Sought to rethink, adjust, and update the existing teacher education curriculum better to meet the evolving needs of the education system, the curriculum reframing was facilitated by RITQ from October 2024 to March 2026, involving over 200 experts from almost 100 institutions nationwide during the development process and engaging with more than 10,000 stakeholders across all research and validation activities.
The Senator’s remark on the importance of supporting teachers remained consistent, as his office had facilitated high-level engagements with key policymakers, education leaders, and representatives from basic education and teacher education to gather insights into preparing teachers in light of evolving learner needs and system reforms. Conducted on March 31 and April 1, 2026, these engagements primarily featured Dr. Penny Bishop, Dean of the Wheelock College of Education & Human Development at Boston University, who shared her expertise and experiences on early adolescence and middle school. Joining these engagements were representatives from RITQ, who are also set to continue partnering with the TEC as the latter seeks to reframe graduate teacher education by 2026.
As Senator Gatchalian leads the Senate in crafting crucial legislation that addresses the needs of the country, including those of Philippine education, RITQ remains fully committed to engaging with partners and stakeholders to pursue research initiatives that contribute to policies that advance teacher and teaching quality in the Philippines.
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