Search on for 2014 Outstanding Teachers

CEBU, Philippines - The Metrobank Foundation, Inc., in cooperation with the Department of Education, has launched the 2014 Search for Outstanding Teachers.

In a communication issued by DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro, he requested school divisions to participate actively in this Search that is now on its 30th year. "It has already awarded a total of 326 outstanding teachers from public and private schools all over the country," the Central Office memorandum dated December 17, 2013 read.

It was learned that the Search bestows honor upon the teaching profession by "according special recognition to teachers who manifest profound commitment to the development of the youth through exemplary competence, remarkable dedication to their work and effective educational leadership."

This is open to teachers who are Filipino citizens teaching in the elementary, secondary or tertiary levels, including alternative learning system, with full-time or permanent appointment and with full load.

Nominees should have been actively teaching in the Philippines for the last 10 years (inclusive of leaves not exceeding three years and provided that the nominee is not on leave, that is, he/she is actually teaching at the time of nomination).

Nominees must be teachers with valid Professional Regulation Commission license. Their average performance ratings for the last five years should be at least "Very Satisfactory" with no rating below "Satisfactory." For those who have been on official/study leave or on secondment, performance ratings for five years closest to the period of nomination should be provided.

Elementary school heads are entitled to nominate two teacher-nominees, one each for the primary (Kindergarten to Grade 3) and intermediate (Grades 4 to 6), while each high school head is entitled to nominate only one teacher.

Nominees need to accomplish a two-page Basic Information Sheet (BIS), without any attachments yet. The accomplished BIS should be submitted to any Metrobank Branch nearest the nominee's school or sent via courier to Metrobank Foundation, 4th Floor, Executive Offices, Metrobank Plaza, Sen. Gil J. Puyat Avenue, Makati City on or before January 27, 2014. There is no need to submit an accomplished nomination form and supporting documents yet.

Nominees must be officially endorsed by the school principals, school heads, or head teachers who are the only ones authorized to nominate teachers to the Search. For DepEd schools without principals, the teachers-in-charge (TIC) can nominate, but the schools division superintendents (SDS) must endorse the nomination. Head teachers, teachers-in-charge and assistant school principals are eligible to join the Search, provided they carry a teaching load of at least 50 percent of the total load required by the nominating school for full-time faculty. However, they should be endorsed by any of the division/district supervisors. In this case, the SDSs concerned should be the official nominators.

Winners of other searches/awards for outstanding teachers conducted by reputable organizations at the regional, national and international levels are deemed Automatic Provincial Finalists, provided that they meet the basic eligibility requirements of tenure, performance and teaching load and passed different levels of screening.

Past regional finalists and national finalists of the Search who met the basic eligibility requirements, and have shown sustained good moral standing in the community, are deemed Automatic Provincial Finalists. To give premium to them, there is no need for them to submit their accomplished nomination form immediately on February 21, 2014. Instead, they will submit the accomplished form together with their supporting documents due on April 25, 2014. However, to make their nomination official, they still need to submit their duly accomplished BIS on January 27, 2014.

Each DepEd Division is directed to generate a minimum of five nominations and to encourage school principals to nominate their best candidates. Awarding will be on October 15, 2014 in celebration of World Teachers Day. Downloadable forms are available at www.mbfoundation.org.ph. (FREEMAN)