In many public high school classrooms, teachers are being asked to handle subjects beyond their formal training.
Citing findings released by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOMII) in 2024, the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF) said 62% of high school teachers teach outside their specialization. In science, the mismatch is especially pronounced, reaching 98% in Physical Sciences and 80% in Biological Sciences.
GBF is responding to this gap through the GBF TeachSTEM Certificate Program, developed in partnership with the University of Santo Tomas (UST). The program brings together GBF, UST, and the Schools Division Offices of Quezon City, Caloocan, Muntinlupa, and Pasig to support 100 public school teachers.
Designed to help public school teachers strengthen their STEM instruction, the certificate program draws on UST’s expertise in teacher education and science instruction.
GBF General Manager Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng said the EDCOMII figures point to the need for partnerships that can help teachers build stronger content knowledge and classroom confidence.
“These numbers remind us why partnerships like this matter. Through the TeachSTEM Certificate Course in Science Teaching, GBF hopes to help address science specialization gaps through targeted upskilling, so that more teachers are equipped with stronger content knowledge, practical teaching strategies, and renewed confidence in the classroom,” she said.
Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng, General Manager of the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation; Assoc. Prof. Pilar I. Romero, PhD, Dean of the UST College of Education; and Rev. Fr. Art Vincent M. Pangan, O.P., SThL, Regent of the UST College of Education, led the ceremonial signing of the partnership agreement. They were joined by (from left) Liza A. Alvarez, Education Program Supervisor for Science, DepEd SDO Pasig City; Dr. Maria Pilar O. Capalongan, Education Program Supervisor for Science, DepEd SDO Quezon City; Dr. Jesusa R. Baetiong, Assistant Department Head III, DepEd SDO Quezon City; and Dr. Maricris N. Surigao, Public Schools District Supervisor, DepEd SDO Caloocan.
UST will implement the program through its College of Education, which recently marked its centennial year, bringing its teacher-training experience to public school educators in the participating divisions.
Rev. Fr. Art Vincent M. Pangan, O.P., SthL, Regent of the UST College of Education, said the university sees the program as an opportunity to share its academic resources, faculty expertise, and teacher-formation experience with public school educators.
“Sa pagbubukas ng pintuang ito para maibahagi ang anumang yaman meron kami, ang talento ng aming mga guro at ng mga naglilingkod sa paghuhubog ng mga guro… You will enjoy here, learning with us, growing with us, and serving with us,” Fr. Pangan said.
The new certificate program reflects GBF’s continuing work to support Filipino teachers and learners, helping create classrooms where science is taught with greater confidence, clarity, and care.
For more information, visit gokongweibrothersfoundation.org
