UNEP Joins PAFTE's Benchmarking Tour

Aimed at boosting their vision of providing quality education and instructive exposure to their faculty members and educators, the University of Northeastern Philippines ' (UNEP), represented by Dr. Violeta Lomibao, Dean of the College of Education attended a 3-day benchmarking tour spearheaded by the Philippine Association for Teacher Education or PAFTE.

This is part of PAFTE's way of celebrating their 25^th Founding Anniversary.

The educational tour held from April 28 to April 30 was participated in by other member-schools and universities of PAFTE. The group's itinerary covered a visit at the various colleges of Education in Metro Manila particularly at UP-Diliman, University of Santo Tomas (UST) and Philippine Normal University (PNU).

The group also visited some of the cultural sites and other institutions in the metropolis like the National Museum, Arc Anton Zoo, Manila Ocean Park and Science Discovery Center. At PNU, the group of educators also went to the Doll Museum, the World of Butterflies area, Shoe Museum, and the Hat/Shoe/Soap Making Factory.

PAFTE had been providing leadership endeavors to a lot of teaching professionals, particularly those in charge of training future teachers in their respective academic communities.  They believe that exposures like conventions, seminar-workshops and trainings are effective methods towards the enhancement of the participant's capabilities as educators.

"This is one of those chances that we would not want to miss since this kind of training is also a way of exposing us to the latest trends in education. It also enables us to equip ourselves with the current know-how on what's going on in other academic communities, and see what we can bring back and adapt in our respective schools," Lomibao said in an interview.

Dr. Arnulfo Aaron R. Reganit, Dean of the Ateneo De Naga University College of Education, also the current president of PAFTE said that these activities are also a way of retooling the educators' capabilities as effective mentors.

"The purpose of the benchmarking tour is to provide the deans and their faculty with the opportunity to observe and learn the best practices in teacher-training and development which can be replicated in their respective schools," Reganit added.

UNEP on its part welcomed PAFTE's invitation.  Atty. Remelisa Alfelor-Moraleda, President of the university said that the management also sees this training as a great way to enhance the quality of teaching that their educators are giving to their students.  "We will continue to respond to the country's need for globally competitive professionals and again, we would like to thank the management of PAFTE for their invitation," Moraleda added.

UNEP is still accepting interested enrollees who wish to take part in the LET review being spearheaded by UNEP's College of Education.  They are offering 18 units of learning package to non-education graduate. Start of classes for the LET Review is scheduled on May 22, 2010.  For more details, please contact Mrs. Violeta Lomibao, Dean of the College of Education or call telephone number 299-2698 local 46.  (Lizel Macatangay)