CHED closes 26 teacher education programs

THE Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has closed 26 teacher education programs in 11 higher education institutions (HEIs) for failing to meet quality standards, CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis told the Senate Friday.

Agrupis said the closures were part of CHED’s intensified crackdown on non-compliant teacher education programs amid concerns over so-called diploma mills nationwide.

The action followed findings by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) that 177 teacher education institutions recorded zero passing rates in the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) from 2012 to 2022.

Senate President and EDCOM 2 Co-Chairperson Sherwin Gatchalian urged CHED to impose stronger discipline on institutions that continue to produce poor results, saying students’ time and public funds could be wasted.

“We have to have discipline among our TEIs,” Gatchalian said, adding that institutions capable of improving should be supported but persistent poor-performing programs must be addressed.

Agrupis said CHED classifies institutions as conditional, incomplete or failed based on monitoring and quality assurance assessments. Failed programs may be closed, while conditional institutions are given a limited period to correct deficiencies.

“Kung failed talaga close. Kung conditional we give them a certain developmental part of our mandate,” Agrupis said.

CHED, together with the Professional Regulation Commission, Department of Education and Teacher Education Council, also launched the Philippine Teacher Education Registry in November 2025 to identify teacher education programs compliant with quality standards.

Agrupis said CHED continues to investigate other cases through a nationwide technical working group as it recalibrates its monitoring system.

Gatchalian said EDCOM 2 would support CHED’s efforts, stressing that quality teachers require quality teacher education institutions.