Manila, March 19 -- Senators and education stakeholders discussed Wednesday alternative modes of modernizing teacher licensing, eyed to address workforce shortage.

To date, teachers secure their licenses only after passing the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) given by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC), as mandated under Republic Act (RA) No. 7836, otherwise known as the Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994.

During the hearing of the Senate Civil Service, Government Reorganization, and Professional Regulation Subcommittee presided by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, the Teacher Education Council (TEC) proposed alternative pathways to teacher licensure and these include assessments through projects, portfolios...