Silliman University announced Thursday it is implementing the requirement of at least a master’s degree for all faculty teaching college courses in the University effective this school year 2014-2015, in line with a Commission on Higher Education mandate.
This is deemed requisite by pertinent government regulations and recent decisions of the Supreme Court, the University said.
A press statement issued by the University through Mark Raygan Garcia, director of the Office of Information & Publications, was released Thursday, more than a week after classes had officially started June 10, and teachers had already met with their students, before their teaching loads were recalled.
The recall caught some of the affected teachers flat-footed, after they had already prepared course outlines and met with their students for sessions. They complained they were casually informed of the recall of their teaching loads.
Of those affected, about 11 were regular teachers from the College of Engineering and the College of Mass Communication, who were now instead being given non-teaching assignments.
Garcia, however, declined to identify the 11 regular teachers, saying he had to consult with the University’s Human Resource Department first, as the teachers may not agree to disclosure of their identities.
As to the recall of teaching loads for part-time teachers, particularly with the College of Mass Communication, Garcia admitted “the complication arose from the ‘equivalency’ requirement”.
“There was a CMO (CHED memorandum order) issued by CHED before on equivalency. The CMO cited a certain level of professional experience to qualify a non-masters teacher in the field to teach, i.e. Journalism”, he said.
Garcia went on to say that the University inquired from CHED on the validity of the CMO given the Supreme Court decision upholding the Manual of Regulations for Private Higher Education, and wrote CHED in May.
Silliman University received an official response from CHED just last week, informing that the equivalency requirement does not stand anymore in light of the SC ruling, according to Garcia.
“This means a relevant master’s (degree) is required even for journalism-related courses,” he said.
“Thus, we were apologetic to part-time teachers who may have been assigned loads earlier but had to be informed of the development on the second week from when we started classes on June 10”, Garcia added.
All subjects at the college level are being handled by teachers with a relevant master’s degree, he assured, even as he revealed that this is except for those teaching Architecture, which is allowed by law to be taught by licensed architects who may or may not have a master’s degree, for its initial five years of offering.
Garcia further explained that “Silliman University had given due notice of this requirement of a master’s degree for college faculty and had been offering assistance to those without this degree to obtain and complete the same since four school years ago”.
“Since school year 2010-2011, Silliman had been offering scholarships and grants for graduate schooling and thesis writing for its college faculty without a master’s degree. Regular notices were also issued to monitor progress.”
Most of the affected Silliman faculty successfully completed their graduate degrees before the end of May 2014, Garcia added.
Higher education institutions in the Philippines are mandated either by its own exercise of academic freedom or by law and regulations to observe certain standards with respect to the qualifications of their faculty. The requirement of a master’s degree is consistent with the Manual of Regulations for Private Schools and the MORPHE of 2008 of the CHED, recently affirmed by the Supreme Court in the case of UE vs Pepanio et al. in January 2013.
Silliman offers non-teaching loads and other work assignments to college faculty who do not have a master’s degree at this time.
Also, there are courses that because of the dearth of qualified faculty, the CHED allows these to be handled by non-Masters faculty, to include Physical Education and Music, Garcia said. (PNA/JFP )
