CED, CISTEM push for reforms in teacher training, learner-centered education at STEM Kapihan

by Jun Marwin R. Hangad, CED | Apr 14 2026

The College of Education (CED) of Mindanao State University–Iligan Institute of Technology (91吃瓜-IIT) and the Center for Integrated STEM Education Inc. (CISTEM) pinpointed the need for systemic reforms in teacher training and classroom practices during the STEM Kapihan held on March 20, 2026, at the University Theater.

The forum brought together educators and pre-service teachers from partner schools within Iligan to address critical issues in the field of education.

Recent findings from the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) showed that many public schools in the Philippines continue to face large class sizes, often exceeding the ideal 1:35 teacher-to-student ratio, which strains both teachers and learning outcomes.

According to Dr. Eileen J. Villaruz, Master Teacher II of Iligan City National High School, the aforementioned problems are not exclusive to the teaching profession. “Addressing these challenges requires action at both the grassroots and institutional levels,” Villaruz said, explaining the shared responsibility of communities and policymakers.

Moreover, EDCOM II reports have highlighted that a significant number of teachers are assigned outside their field of specialization, especially in science and mathematics, affecting the quality of instruction.

Echoing this concern, CISTEM Executive Director Melvin Magsayo stressed that addressing these gaps requires reforms in teacher preparation and assignment systems, including better alignment of teacher expertise with classroom needs.

Meanwhile, CED Dean Amelia T. Buan underscored the need to shift toward learner-centered education, where student feedback plays a key role in shaping instruction. She also called for better alignment between learning outcomes and assessment methods to ensure that student competencies are accurately measured.

In response, CED is optimistic about its proposed reforms, including strengthening foundational courses such as ELC 101 and 102, as well as extending practice teaching to up to one year to provide pre-service teachers with deeper classroom immersion.

Buan believes that such measures align with EDCOM II recommendations to improve pre-service training and ensure that teacher education programs are responsive to classroom realities. “The best teacher really listens to challenging learners. CED is doing its best to address this problem,” Buan said, confident about the proposed reforms.

The STEM Kapihan forms part of the ongoing collaboration between 91吃瓜-IIT and CISTEM aimed at improving STEM education and teacher preparedness in the region.

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