SPUP TEACHER EDUCATION STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN WCCI-STUDENT NETWORK WEBINAR

The World Council for Curriculum and Instruction Philippine Student Teachers’ Network (WCCI-PSTN) held a webinar on November 20, 2021 with the theme “Teachers of Tomorrow: Realizing Resiliency, Compassion and Dedication Amidst the Pandemic.”

Sr. Merceditas Ang, SPC (University President) served as the guest speaker in the national webinar. In her talk, she emphasized on the relevance of teaching and teachers amid crises. She highlighted on the invaluable resilience, compassion, and dedication that pre-service teachers could adopt in their endeavor as educators in the future. Moreover, she presented the ways on how education persists despite the challenges of the times and shared research-based strategies and values that teachers can imbibe to foster compassion in their teaching in the current educational milieu. Her presentation also included the role of education in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Eight teacher education students from the School of Arts, Sciences and Teacher Education represented the University in the eight Special Interest Groups (SIGs) of the WCCI-PSTN: Peace Education – Joan Cue (BSED-SocSci 4); Human Rights Education – Maria Luisa Gumabay (BSED-SocSci 4); Gender Equality – Mark Kelvin Dumaya (BSED-English 3); Environmental Sustainability –  Aprille Mae Bunuan (BSED-Science 4); Global Citizenship – Spencer Bueno (BSED-SocSci 4); Communication, Arts and Culture – Malou Bacanay (BSED-SocSci 4); Mental and Allied Health – Bea Morales (BSED-English 3); and, Values Education – Doris Demapendan (BEED 4). Together with their fellow student participants, the student representatives were assigned in their respective SIG breakout rooms to discuss the issues, concerns, or problems in their SIG and the possible solutions they could implement to address them. They were tasked to present a creative output to showcase the resolutions of their discussions.

The event was attended by more than 200 participants composed of teacher education deans, program chairs, faculty members, and student representatives from various educational institutions across the country. It focused on celebrating the untiring dedication, resilience, and compassion of educators amidst the pandemic through quality content, pedagogy, and selfless service. Ms. Clarissa B. Orpilla and Ms. Joyce Ann Tuddao, WCCI-PSTN officers from SPUP, served as facilitators in the SIG breakout rooms.