By Raffy Christopher M. Dominguez and Khreane Cassandra V. Mañez

Former Institute of Education (IE) Dean Dr. Barbara Wong-Fernandez voluntarily resigned due to lack of Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) license after complying with Commission on Higher Education (CHED) order.

CHED Memorandum Order (CMO) No. 52 Series of 2007 mandates a qualification for higher education institution offering an education degree to appoint dean that holds a doctoral degree in education and professional license.

Despite lacking of LET license, Wong-Fernandez explained that she was appointed because of her doctoral degree in Philippine Studies.

“Though I am not holding an education doctoral degree, it is considered that Philippine Studies is a related field,” she said.
According to the former dean, Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA) and the Administration took her in the position prior to the CMO last 2007.

The former dean is a professional guidance counselor and dean of Education in De La Salle University (DLSU) for three years before she served her two and a half years of deanship in IE.

As FEU needs to build up its research component, Wong-Fernandez was appointed as the University Research Director.
She accepted the position because FEU has its urgent need of strengthening the research program.

Dr. Elsa Gerardo, former East-Asia College (EAC) Mathematics and Physical Sciences Department Chair undertook the position last January 4.

After Gerardo’s retirement year last December 2009, Assistant VPAA Dr. Cecilia Anido offered the vacant position to Gerardo.

Setting goals
Taking the responsibility, the new dean sets plans for IE.
She proposes to improve graduating students’ Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) review, targeting a 100 percent passing rate of FEU examinees.

“That is my main goal now that as soon as possible, all [graduating] students will pass the LET exam and [to be] above the national passing rate,” she stated.

Through extensive LET reviews, she assures FEU passing rate to mark higher than the previous years.
To broaden educators’ field study, Gerardo will also build up tie-ups from different schools for students’ practice teaching.
“I am actually planning to look for better schools. We will also improve the model classrooms in order for students to have a school set-up,” she said.

The EAC-based dean will also try to have students’ practice teaching in colleges and universities as some future educators will become college professors.

As the smallest institute in FEU, she also envisions an annual increase in IE’s population.

In addition, the Institute is getting ready for Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation’s (PACUCOA) Level 2 re-accreditation on March.

“And hopefully, after we get the Level 2, IE will immediately apply for Level 3 and with that, we keep on improving. Every year, IE improves,” she said.

The said plans are patterned from Wong-Fernandez’s five-year development plan for IE.
“I am still studying the programs of IE and I can say that Wong-Fernandez laid very good plans,” Gerardo remarked.
During Wong-Fernadez’s term, the Institute set up model classrooms, fixed Institute policies for graduate thesis and disorientation procedures.

Moreover, the new Research Director hopes to maintain the programs and improve IE policies under a new supervision.

Back to service
Practicing the profession for 40 years, Gerardo shared that she still wants to become a teacher aside from being a dean.
“I miss teaching so I am planning to ask VPAA’s permission to teach again next school year,” she said.

The new dean is a graduate of BS Mathematics in University of Santo Tomas, finished her Master of Arts in Mathematics in DLSU and Manuel L. Quezon University.