Senator Gatchalian receives his honorary Doctor of Education degree from the Philippine Normal University. Photo credit: Sen. Gatchalian Facebook page

Education advocate Senator Sherwin Gatchalian was conferred with the degree of Doctor of Education (honoris causa) by the Philippine Normal University at a special ceremony on 3 February 2023 in recognition of his “outstanding and exceptional work towards improving teacher education in the country.”

Senator Gatchalian’s leadership as Senate Chair of the Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture was instrumental in the passage of several landmark laws including the Excellence in Teacher Act (RA 11713) where he extensively worked with PNU and RCTQ in crafting a legislation that would “address the perennial crisis hounding our education system particularly our basic education sector.”

In his speech prior to the conferment rite, Commission on Higher Education chair Dr. Prospero de Vera recognized Senator Gatchalian’s “immense contributions to the field of public service and in the advancement of both basic and higher education in the country.”

Recalling how Senator Gatchalian filed House Bill 5905 (the original version of the proposed Free Higher Education Act) as congressman in 2015, Dr. De Vera described the senator’s career as one dedicated to “working tirelessly on behalf of the people he represents, championing important issues and advocating for possible change.”

“Today, we all know him for his tireless commitment to public service. and for his unwavering dedication to making a positive impact in the lives of Filipinos,” Chairman de Vera said.

House Bill 5905 was later consolidated with its Senate version and was signed into law in 2017 as the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act or RA 10931.

In receiving his honorary degree, Senator Gatchalian thanked the PNU for the recognition.

“As a longtime advocate for education reforms, it is such an incredible honor and privilege to be awarded an honorary doctorate in education from no other than the PNU, the country’s National Center for Teacher Education and a highly renowned incubator for progressive education policies,” Gatchalian said in his speech. I hope to continue relying on your support moving forward, even more so now as an honorary alumnus of your distinguished institution.”

In a statement, PNU said Senator Gatchalian “embodies the PNU mandate to lead innovative, responsive, and sustainable teacher education programs for future-ready teachers and education leaders.”

RCTQ worked with Gatchalian and his committee from 2020 as a resource organization for what started as a Teacher Education Council (TEC) Act amendatory bill until it evolved, was consolidated with its House version, and was signed by President Duterte as RA 11713 in 2022.

In introducing the committee report on the unified version of House Bill 10301 and Senate Bill 2152 in January 2022, Senator Gatchalian described the bill as “a sweeping piece of landmark legislation that will reform and improve the quality of teacher education and training in the country.”

“This is a significant step forward addressing the perennial crisis hounding our education system particularly our basic education sector,” the senator said.

Aside from RA 11713, he also authored RA 11510 or the Alternative Learning System Act, RA 11476 or the GMRC and Values Education Act, and RA 11650 or the Inclusive Education Act. As Chair of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, Arts and Culture of the 19th Congress, Senator Gatchalian made initiatives that facilitate equitable access to quality education.

Atty. Lutgardo B. Barbo, former PNU president and current president of the PNU Alumni Association (PNUAA), led the induction of Senator Gatchalian to the PNUAA.

The conferment ceremony was part of the 31st PNU University Week celebration with the theme, “Pambansang Bukod Tangi, Kahusayan ay Ipagbunyi.(RCTQ Comms)

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Education advocate Senator Sherwin Gatchalian was conferred with the degree of Doctor of Education (honoris causa) by the Philippine Normal University at a special ceremony on 3 February 2023 in recognition of his 'outstanding and exceptional work towards improving teacher education in the country.' Senator Gatchalian's leadership as Senate Chair...