Manila, Feb. 3 -- The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on Tuesday said it is intensifying its investigation and regulatory action against illegal teacher education programs.

During a Senate hearing, CHED officials confirmed that teachers in Palawan were duped into enrolling in unaccredited courses for promotion involving an unauthorized extension program offered by a private school based in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

"It's an illegal offering at Palawan po (It is an illegal offering in Palawan)," CHED Senior Education Specialist Ericson Reyes said, adding that the matter has been referred to concerned agencies for action.

Reyes said CHED stepped up monitoring of graduate-level programs and has the authori...