RECOGNIZING the contributions of Filipino teachers to nation-building, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. promised to ensure school safety and improve teacher professional development that ultimately benefits the country’s learners.
“Together with parents, communities, and other partners, we will continue to work to make our schools more secure and more responsive to the needs of our learners,” President Marcos said in his address at the Manila Hotel during the Teacher Education Council’s Celebrating Teacher Excellence: A National Teachers’ Month 2026 Celebration.
“At the same time, we continue to improve teacher preparation and professional development throughout your careers,” the President said.
These efforts are evident in the administration’s approach, such as the Teacher Education Roadmap 2035 and the scholarship program for the Teacher Education Centers of Excellence, the President said, noting that the launch of MyTEC creates more opportunities for teachers to continue learning and growing throughout their careers.
The administration’s goal, President Marcos said, is to ensure teachers have better preparation before entering the classroom and meaningful opportunities to keep learning while practicing their professions.
And through the first TEC Teachers Awards, the government is honoring educators who have demonstrated excellence and a commitment to continuous professional growth, the President emphasized.
“To awardees: Your recognition today is a tribute to what you have accomplished. Let your example inspire another teacher. May your experience help shape the next generation of teachers,” said the Chief Executive.
“To our scholars: The scholarship that you receive today is an investment in your future and in the future of the children that you will teach. Make the most of that opportunity. Study well. Learn deeply. Serve with compassion,” President Marcos added.
The President expressed gratitude to the country’s teachers and also acknowledged the government’s private-sector partners in teacher education for sharing their expertise, resources, research, and time.
The President also told the educators that their hard work does not go unnoticed, stressing that tools such as technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), will change how children learn, but they cannot replace a teacher who guides them in deciding what is true, important, and right.
The TEC Teachers Awards 2026 is an awards program of the Teacher Education Council recognizing individuals whose work contributes to the development and improvement of teacher education in the Philippines.
The My Teacher Education Commons (MyTEC) Portal, on the other hand, is a proposed shared digital platform being developed by the Teacher Education Council to support continuous professional learning and teacher development. PCO
