The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) have signed a Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) to align the Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LEPT) with the teacher education curriculum.

This comes as the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) said Thursday the move will ensure the licensure exam reflects the competencies needed for effective teaching, as outlined by the Policies, Standards and Guidelines (PSGs).

Under the new system, the LEPT will be conducted separately based on relevant programs, standards and guidelines issued by CHED.

Aspiring teachers will take different licensure exams depending on their teaching specialization, such as Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Early Childhood Education and Special Needs Education.

Elementary teacher examinees will also take specialization tests in Early Childhood Education and Special Needs Education. Secondary Education examinees, in addition to tests in their regular teaching subjects like English, Filipino, Science, Mathematics and Physical Education, will also take exams in specializations such as Social Studies, Values Education, Technology and Livelihood Education, Technical-Vocational Teacher Education and Culture and Arts Education.

The revised examination will have three parts: general education, professional education and a field of specialization relevant to the teaching area.

EDCOM 2 data revealed a mismatch among newly licensed teachers, with 62 percent of high school teachers teaching subjects they did not major in during college. The commission said the current LEPT administered by the PRC has resulted in low passing rates and teacher specialization mismatches.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who witnessed the signing of the JMC, said the reform demonstrates the government’s commitment to ensuring every Filipino teacher is equipped with the necessary skills for effective teaching.