A.

The Teacher Professional and the Teaching Profession Across the ASEAN and Beyond

The Professional Educational What Grades Level can How are they recruited
Teacher in Qualifications They Teach
1. ASEAN Teachers in ASEAN Elementary and The recruitment of
must have appropriate Secondary Levels. teachers in the ASEAN
degree in tertiary level will based on the
(Bachelor’s Degree in qualifications given by
Education) the Ministry of
Education (we have the
Teachers can have 9 Pre-school, Pre-primary Department of
years of basic Kindergarten Education in the
education plus 3 years Philippines) for the
advanced training to public schools whereas
become a professional the private schools is
teacher. under the guidance
and policies of each
They can also have 12 Lower Secondary Level country’s ministry.
years in basic
education plus 2 years
to earn a diploma in
teaching.

2. CHINA Teachers in China must Primary Level They are given an

be a graduate from examination.
secondary normal Licensing/Examinations
schools. are standardized for
the secondary teachers
Should have a teaching Junior Secondary Level by the central
diploma from junior government while
teaching colleges examination for the
elementary teachers
Graduate from a Senior Secondary Level are the administered
normal university or by each province.
teacher colleges and a
holder degree before
they could be able to
teach learners based
on their area of
expertise.
3. JAPAN Teachers in Japan have First Class Certificate- The teacher applicant
their own certificates The teacher could must secure a license
to be considered as a teach in the pre-school to teach from the
qualified teacher. They or elementary or prefectural board of
must earn the First secondary teachers education. Applicant is
Class Certificate with a with Bachelor’s required to take
Bachelor’s Degree and Degree. To teach in the prefectural
a master’s degree. upper secondary level, appointment
 they must have a examinations. First
master’s degree. stage is the written
examination and the
Second Class Certificate Second Class second stage consists
has basic qualification Certificate- Teachers of interviews.
of 2 years of study in a can teach in secondary Prefectures require
university. level without a applicants to be under
master’s degree. 30 years old.

In addition, teachers
must earn a prescribed
number of credits in
education studies and
in the subjects to be
taught.
4. USA Pre-service students Pre-primary Teachers must pass the
who want to become a Primary competency test
teacher have to attend Middle School before they are
a college or a university Secondary Education allowed to enter the
of four years, major or Junior High School teaching profession.
minor in education and Senior High School After following the
earn a teaching successful completion
certificate. of an application
process, a
superintendent
approves the applicant
and then forwards a
recommendation to
hire to the local school
board.

B. The Global Teacher Status Index Report

1. It is said that 2/3 of the countries judged the professional status of teacher most similar to social
worker. Indeed, this statement is most likely true. Teachers are said to be the second mother
and father apart from home. Whether we like it or not, being a teacher is being a social worker
especially if you are teaching learners in elementary level. All the works and services done by a
social worker, you name it, and it is also done by teachers. Aside from imparting knowledge,
taking good care of their learners is one of the primary or sole responsibility of a teacher. For
instance, a student/pupil of yours left his lunchbox at home, as a teacher you must have the
initiative to provide food for that student because again as stated in section 2 of article VIII of
the teacher and the learner that a teacher shall recognize that the interest and welfare of
learners are his first and foremost concern. Another example would be if there are activities or
movements happening inside the community, teachers are expected to participate and help.
 Therefore, as much as possible you have to give your full service not just to your learners but as
well as to the parents and the rest of the community.

2. Philippines is believed to have this high regard when it comes to good manners and right
conduct. And students are expected to behave in a good way as they can. As per observations,
most of the students here in the Philippines still have that high respect to their teachers because
we have this mindset that when you are a teacher, you have the power and the authority to
your students and also to the community. You are not just a teacher but you are a teacher. This
may not be true anymore in all situations here in the Philippines because there are students
especially the young generation learners who are slowly losing respect and mistreating teachers.
But still, I believe in the goodness of the Filipinos. That time may pass by but the respect and the
admiration we give every time we encounter our teachers will remain the same as long as we
continuously teach learners not just at school but also at home to always and, in all situations,
instill them all the values and the proper way in behaving especially when it comes to respecting
teachers.

3. Often, we say “Teaching is the noblest profession” and it’s the truest of all statement. Being a
teacher is not an easy job. Giving the best way you can is a must when you decided to enter the
world of teaching profession. Among all the professions, teaching is the best way we could serve
our community or in broader means the world. Teachers have the power to mold the future of
their learners, they create the most competent and highly mind of other professionals such as
doctors, nurses, engineers, and more. And I can really say that they form the most beautiful job
amongst all. Teachers also have a lot of benefits. As they say, teaching is a lifetime job. And here
in the Philippines, it is really funded well by the government. In this concept, I would encourage
my younger sisters and brother to pursue the career of teaching only if they want to. If they
have the heart to become a teacher, I would gladly encourage them. But if not, I won’t force
them. I cannot just decide what they wanted to become in life. Therefore, I could say that it
takes a lot to become a teacher and those who dare must have the heart for it.

4. In my own opinion, I would also agree in terms of teachers being paid according to their
student’s performance. This would serve as a challenge to all the teachers to work hard and give
their best to create the best students of this era. Because truth be told, there are teachers, not
all, who are not doing their job well, as long as they get paid then that’s it. They only care for the
salary they get not the mission they need to achieve- to make the best learners. With this term
and condition, teachers can have the amount of salary they deserve based on how effective they
are in the teaching process. It’s a win-win situation for all, they get high salaries and at the same
time learners get the highest possible standard of quality education.

5. The government in the Philippines is doing their best to uphold and make the highest standard
quality of teachers. Filipinos are very particular when it comes to education. Teachers are doing
their best to impart knowledge and as well as instill moral values to their learners. That’s why
 among all the organizations, the Department of Education have the highest funds given by the
government especially now that their goal is to create globally competitive learners so they
really have to make sure that they also have globally competitive teachers. Seminars, trainings
and workshops are given to teachers from time to time. I see no reasons as to why not to trust
Filipino teachers. Loopholes are as human as we are. There is no perfect state but the fact that
teachers are doing their best to execute their job is already enough to trust Filipino teachers.

2. ENRICHMENT ACTIVITY

There are things that differ between the Filipino Teachers and teachers in ASEAN and Beyond.
From the different requirements each state have, the different ways of giving salaries to the teachers, in
which it’s very clear that salaries in other states are far way higher than in the Philippines, the different
educational qualifications each one must achieve and to the different ways of recruitment of becoming a
fully professional teacher. But there is this particular goal everyone has. That every state is striving to
have the best teachers to teach their learners. Although the ways and traditions are far way different
but the purpose of providing learners the best quality education through having competent teachers is
there. The long process that every aspiring teacher has to go through is not easy. Each state is really
making sure that they could produce teachers that has all the knowledge needed to teach and also the
values that they have to possess in order to become a professional teacher. Teachers take a big part in
the betterment and improvement of the world. Through them, the world could be able to produce the
best people. They hone and shape the mind of every person across the world and without them, we got
so much to lose.

The world is fast changing and it needs the best people to go with this rapid change. Teachers
are the best people to do that. The world needs them and despite all the diversities, each country is
doing their best to provide and make the best of teachers. No matter how far this change might reach
for as long as there are teachers that have the skills and competent in teaching, maybe, just maybe the
world could be a better place for this generation and for the future generation.