Education Secretary Sonny Angara has expressed full support for a new scholarship program that will provide financial assistance to 720 aspiring teachers across the country beginning Academic Year 2026–2027.
In a statement following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), Angara said the initiative aims to help students who want to pursue careers in teaching and ensure that financial constraints do not prevent them from serving the country through education. The program, known as the Teacher Education Scholarship Program (TESP), carries a total funding allocation of P103.32 million.
The agreement was signed between the Teacher Education Council and the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST) under the supervision of the Commission on Higher Education(CHED). The scholarship program will initially prioritize students taking up Early Childhood Education, Values Education, and Special Needs Education—areas identified as facing shortages of qualified teachers.
Aside from the scholarship launch, Angara also presided over the 2026 First Council Meeting of the Teacher Education Council. According to his statement, discussions during the meeting focused on reforms intended to improve the quality of teacher education in the Philippines.
Among the council’s priority agenda items were the designation of Teacher Education Centers of Excellence, updates to the country’s quality assurance framework and pre-service teacher education curriculum, and the development of alternative pathways for individuals seeking to enter the teaching profession. The meeting was attended by CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis and TESDA Director General Kiko Benitez, among other education officials.
Angara emphasized that strengthening education begins with investing in teachers, adding that the government’s long-term goal is to ensure future Filipino educators are properly trained, equipped, and supported.
The DepEd said the scholarship initiative forms part of broader efforts to strengthen the country’s teacher workforce and improve educational outcomes nationwide.
