BSEd (Bachelor of Secondary Education) in

the Philippines
Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSED) is a four year degree program designed to
prepare students for becoming high school teachers. The program combines both
theory and practice in order to teach students the necessary knowledge and skills a
high school teacher needs. The BSEd program trains students to teach one of the
different learning areas such as English, Mathematics, General Science, Filipino, Social
Studies, Biological Sciences, Physics, Chemistry, Music, Arts, Physical Education and
Health (MAPEH) and Home Economics and Livelihood Education.

Subjects and Curriculum

The BSED curriculum contains Professional Education subjects that can be classified into
four major categories:
o

Theory and Concepts subjects: Child and Adolescent Development, Social

Dimensions of Education

Methods and Strategies subjects: Principles of Teaching, Assessment of Student

Learning

Field Study subjects: Practice Teaching, Field Study

Elective subjects: Teaching Multicultural Classrooms, Integrative Teaching

Strategies.

The first three years of the Bachelor of Secondary Education program are spent in
classroom discussions, oral recitations and role plays. In addition, there is a Majors
Forum, which is a weekly session, wherein students are given opportunities to review
and communicate what they have learned/experienced, be aware of current issues and
trends in education and to discuss matters relevant to teacher education and the
teaching profession.
During the fourth year, students undergo teaching internships in secondary schools
where they are able to act like professional teachers and experience the life in actual
classroom work. This is done under the supervision of the class adviser who will also
conduct periodic evaluation on the assigned student teacher.
Depending on the field of specialization a student chooses, an undergraduate research
paper may be required as a prerequisite for graduation. This is done under the guidance

of a faculty and ends when the student faces a committee to defend his/her work.

Is teaching a profession?
Teaching is a profession.
A graduate of BSEd who passes the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) is
called a Licensed Teacher. The responsibilities of a teacher include planning, preparing
and delivering effective teaching and learning programs for students in allocated
classes and/or groups, establishing and maintaining a supportive school environment,
monitoring, evaluating and reporting student progress, implementing strategies to
achieve targets related to student learning outcomes, maintaining records of class
attendance and recording student progress and supervising a range of student activities
including support and welfare programs.

What are the admission requirements for Bachelor

of Secondary Education?
Requirements at each school may differ, but these are the common requirements:
(see sources 1, 2, and 3)
o

Must be a high school graduate.

Those who did not complete high school education may opt to first attend Alternative
Learning System (ALS) and pass the Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT) to
qualify for college. However, some universities only offer selected courses for PEPT
passers.

High school QPA: some schools require a high school QPA of 80% and above with no
grade less than 75% in all subjects.

College entrance exam: must have a college entrance examination of above

average or depending on the specified rating set by the school.

Teachers Aptitude Test: there are schools that will require students to take a
separate Teachers Aptitude Test.

Interview: must pass the interview conducted by the college / university admission
officer

National Secondary Assessment Test: some schools require a particular rating in

the National Secondary Assessment Test (NSAT).

Qualifying Exam for Math or Science: for students who choose Math and Science
as their specialization, some schools will require them to take a qualifying exam upon
enrollment. In addition to this, they might also be required to have an average grade of
80 to 85 percent in the two subjects.

What skills, traits and attitude will help you

succeed in this course?
The following are important characteristics that you need to possess to be able to finish
the program and become a good teacher:
o

Being a good communicator the ability to proficiently speak and write English
and convey information to students that is easy to understand.

Interpersonal skills establishes and maintains positive mutual working

relationships with students, parents and co-workers.

Patience understands student behavior, avoids temper flares and finds possible
solutions to unpleasant situations.

Organization the ability to sort and arrange information in a systematic order,

combine ideas and relay them to the students in a clear, concise, and logical manner.

Being comfortable in public speaking being able to speak in front of a class

with 30-40 students without losing your concentration and while keeping calm and
composed.

Able to establish authority being a high school or a college level teacher

requires you to establish your authority and acquire the respect of your students.

How difficult is Bachelor of Secondary Education?

BSED is a fairly easy course. As long as you have the desire and passion to teach then
everything will be fine. There are no complex subjects integrated in the BSEd curriculum
and the workload is not that heavy. You will also have ample time to study as the course
does not demand too much. The only thing that makes the course a bit difficult is the
fact that it will test your character and patience.
As you go for practice teaching, you will be immersed in different secondary schools and

different types of students as well. These students will have varied personalities and
values; often they may be difficult to understand. Being open minded, extending ones
patience and avoiding biases among students will be the challenging part of the job.

How long does it take to complete the BSED

program in the Philippines?
The BSED program takes 4 years to complete. The program may also be completed in
less than 4 years for schools who follow a trimestral curriculum.
Review for the board exam may require an additional 4 to 10 months, depending
whether you pass on your first try.

Student Practice Teaching

The last semester of the BSED program is entirely devoted to intensive student
teaching. Practice Teaching is the culmination of the teacher preparation process.
Student teachers are given the opportunity to apply their knowledge and practice their
skills in actual classes.
The practice teaching program is done under the supervision of a faculty member as
well as the advisory teacher. Formal and informal classroom observations are conducted
regularly. Among the requirements of practice teaching are the creation of plans for
classroom management and instruction.
The number of hours required for the practicum varies from one school to another.

Fields of Concentration
The most common fields of concentration in the BSED program are as follows:
o

English primarily focuses on the development of linguistics, the structure of the

English language and the different types of literature.

Mathematics covers four branches of mathematics namely Advanced Algebra,

Geometry, Trigonometry, Practical Calculus and even biostatistics

General Science a course of study that includes introductory material for earth
science, biology, physics and chemistry.

Filipino concentrates on the history and use of the Filipino language

Social Studies covers Philippine History and Government, Asian History, Ancient
Civilization, World History and economics; it also includes Philippine geography, political
structure, culture, and even problems and issues concerning the country

Biology a course concerned with the study of life and living organisms, including
their structure, function, growth, evolution, distribution, and taxonomy; the program
includes laboratory exercises in a duly recognized laboratory facility

Physics a course where the field of study involves the study of matter and its
motion through space and time, along with related concepts such as energy and force;
includes the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the
universe behaves

Chemistry a course covering the study of the composition, structure, properties

and change of matter; the program includes laboratory exercises in a duly recognized
laboratory facility

Music, Arts, Physical Education and Health (MAPEH) studies Filipino culture
and traditions including foreign influences; concentrates on Filipino music and arts,
customary dances and historic traditions

Home Economics and Livelihood Education one of the learning areas of the
Secondary Education Curriculum; its component areas are: Home Economics, AgriFishery Arts, Industrial Arts, and Information and Communication Technology

Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET)

To be a licensed teacher in the Philippines, a graduate of Bachelor in Secondary
Education needs to pass the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET). The examination
is conducted by the Board of Professional Teachers under the supervision of
the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC). Starting in 2014, the LET exam will be
conducted twice a year in the months of January and July.
There are three main categories of subjects included in the exam and each category has
its corresponding weight: General Education (20%), Professional Education (40%) and
the field of Specialization (40%). (seesource)

To pass the examination an examinee must obtain an average rating of not less than
75% and must have no rating lower than 50% in any of the tests. You can view the
passing rates in the Licensure Exam for Secondary Teachers here.

Teacher Certificate Program

The Teacher Certificate Program (TCP) is a non-degree program designed for individuals
who have completed a Bachelors degree in any field and who intend to teach at the
secondary education level. TCP is the fastest way to get into the Teaching Profession,
because it requires only 18 units of Professional Education subjects to qualify for taking
the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET).
Individuals who complete the PTC are given a certification (NOT a degree or diploma)
that they have completed the 18-unit professional education requirement to be allowed
to take the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET). (See sources 1, 2, 3)

Career Opportunities for BSEd graduates

Jobs for Licensed Teachers (board exam passers)

Entry Level jobs

Jobs requiring no prior to minimal level of experience:

Teaching Assistant works alongside teachers to support learning

activities, helps in planning lessons, prepares teaching materials and leads

classes under the direction of the teacher
Substitute Teacher helps students to learn subject matter and/or

skills that are required for scheduled lessons and to provide meaningful
instruction for assigned classrooms in the absence of the regular classroom
teacher
o

Private Tutor assists students in improving academic achievement

by meeting with them on a regular basis to clarify learning problems and work
on study skills

English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher involves teaching

adults and children whose first or main language is not English.

Subject Teacher teachers who have no advisory class and who have
one field of expertise; delivers lessons in one subject area, does not act as full
time teacher

Volunteer Teachers acts as full time teachers but have salaries

which are lower than permanent teachers paid for by local city or government
Mid-Level Positions

Require trainings and prior job experience of a few years:

o

High School Teacher secondary school teachers teach one or two

national curriculum subjects to pupils aged 11 to 18.

Head Teacher under the direction of the Assistant High School

Principal, assists in overseeing and directing the planning, organizing, and
implementation of education services for students, in addition to part time
classroom teacher duties.

Assistant Principal of a High School the primary job responsibility

is the supervision, discipline, and monitoring of students; under the direction of
the Principal, implements and enforces school board policies, administrative
rules and regulations. In the absence of the Principal, the Assistant Principal
shall assume the duties and responsibilities of the Principal.

High School Department Head of specific major Head of English

Department, Head of Math Department, etc

College Teacher requires a Masters degree, or at least being

enrolled in a Masters degree program.

College Professor requires a Masters degree

Administrator in the Department of Education, CHED or TESDA

Advanced Positions

Require years of extensive experience and practice:

o

School Supervisors/Superintendents the chief administrative

officer for a certain district; responsible for the effective operation of the
District; for the general administration of all instructional, business or other
operations of the District and for advising and making recommendations to the
Board of Education

High School Principal serves as the educational leader and chief

administrator of the high school, responsible for implementing and managing

the policies, regulations, and procedures of the Board of Education to ensure

that all students are supervised in a safe child-centered learning environment
Teaching Consultant serves in a consultive/supportive role with

staff, students, parents and representatives from local districts and community
agencies; responsible for coordination, development and implementation of
instructional programs within assigned areas
Senior Administrator in the Department of Education, CHED or

o
TESDA
o

Academic Book Writers educators who became authors of books

used in different school subjects and educational reading materials

Curriculum Developer works under public educational agencies

such as DepEd and CHED; responsible for designing and implementing curricula
that meets national and institutional educational standards.

Jobs for Non Board Passers:

Unlike other professions, a graduate of Bachelor of Secondary Education can still

practice his/her profession even without passing the board examination for teachers
given that they conform with the conditions set by the Professionalization act of 1994 as
well as the rules set by the schools. (see source)
Many non-board passers teachers hold the same position as board passers. While in
service, they are given a specific timeframe where they should be able to take the LET
and pass the exam to become regular employees. Depending on the school, non-board
passers are not allowed to hold advanced positions and some mid-level positions unless
they pass the board exam.

Working in the Public Sector vs. the Private Sector

Most high school teachers in the Philippines are employed in the public sector. Teaching
in a public school gives more security of employment than teaching in a private school.
You become an employee of the government, thus, you are entitled to security of
tenure. Barring any legal actions or unfortunate circumstances that may cause you to be
removed or retired from teaching, you are likely to be a public school teacher until your
retirement. When it comes to the salary, the public system offers more benefits than the
private schools system, except for a few large private schools.

Jobs not related to the BSED program that graduates can

apply to
o

Call center agent answers phone calls and inquiries of clients and provides
customer support, usually to people from other countries

Administrative Staf personnel responsible for the organization and

management of office duties and tasks; positions that include office secretary,
personal assistant and office clerk

Freelancer working online doing online jobs for clients abroad, such as
data entry, article writing, SEO, customer support, administrative support etc.,
which mainly depends on your skills

Career Opportunities Abroad

Filipino teachers are highly regarded abroad due to their competence in academics,
especially in teaching the English language. Since many non-English countries are now
expanding their curriculum and adding English language as one of the subjects/courses,
Filipino teachers are very in demand abroad.
Aside from English, instructors for music, pre-school, physical education, academic
subjects and private tutors are highly needed abroad (see source).
There are countries where you do not need any additional requirements to become a
teacher. However, in some countries, such as the United States a Teacher Certification
for foreign educated teachers is needed. Additional requirements may also be required
depending on the state that you want to work in (see sources1, 2).

Salary Levels
Salary levels for graduates of Bachelor of Secondary Education will vary depending on
the years of experience and ones rank in the school that he/she is affiliated.
In the Philippines, a teacher who has 1 to 4 years of teaching experience has an average
salary of P10,000 to P15,000 per month. (see source)