Teaching, indeed, is a noble profession. Becoming a teacher in the Philippines, whether in a public or private school, requires dedication, passion, love, and patience. Due to the recent changes in our learning setup brought by the pandemic (hello, online classes!), higit pa nga ang inaasahan sa ating mga magigiting na guro. Are you ready to take the challenge?

Kung desidido ka na maging isang teacher in the future, the question now is how do you become one? With all subjects and fields available to teach students, how do you choose the right course for you? Don’t worry, we’ve prepared a quick rundown on the education courses in the Philippines to help you decide!

Bachelor of Elementary Education

First on our list of education courses is the Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEED). Sino ba naman ang makakalimot sa ating mga elementary teachers na siyang nagturo sa atin kung paano magbasa at magsulat, ‘di ba? BEED is a four-year degree course designed to teach you all the ABCs and 123s you need for teaching grade school.

Mayroon itong dalawang specializations: Ang Bachelor of Elementary Education Major in Special Education at ang Bachelor of Elementary Education Major in Preschool Education.

Bachelor of Elementary Education Major in Special Education

Sa Special Education or SPED, you will be trained to handle and teach children with special needs at the elementary level. Pareho lang ang mga subjects na kukunin mo sa general BEED program, however, ang main focus ng curriculum ng SPED ay ang pag-aaral ng mga teaching methods, materials at facilities na specifically designed for children with special needs.

Ilan sa subjects na matututunan mo sa program na ito ay Psychology of Children With Special Needs, SPED Classroom Management, Organization and Administration of SPED Programs, Observational Child Management, Psychological and Physical Knowledge Approaches, at marami pang iba!

Bachelor of Elementary Education Major in Preschool Education

As the name suggests, specializing in Preschool Education will prepare you to become a preschool teacher. You will also take the same courses under the general BEED program. However, instead of the content courses for elementary students you will focus more on teaching basic subjects like reading, writing, as well as integrating social interaction in the learning process of the little kiddos. Some of the courses you will take in this program are Preschool Curriculum, Classroom Management, Organization and Management of Child Development Programs, Child and Adolescent Development, among many others.

Bukod sa mga specialized courses na nabanggit, you also need to learn how to make your class lively, as well as handling little mishaps like spills, accidents, and tantrums. You are, after all, teaching little kids. Kaya mo yan!

Bachelor in Secondary Education

The Bachelor of Secondary Education or BSEd is a four-year degree and is one of the popular education courses you can take to become a teacher. But instead of elementary teaching, this program is designed to equip you with all the necessary knowledge and skills you need to teach in high school. Ready ka na ba bumalik ng high school? Mayroon itong iba’t-ibang specializations. Here are some of them:

English

If you’re a fan of literature or someone who considers yourself a grammar nazi, magugustuhan mo ang kursong ito. BSEd Major in English will cover subjects including literature (American, European, Afro-Asian), linguistics, structure of the English language, and creative writing just to name a few.

Filipino

Sa kursong ito, magkakaroon ka ng mas malalim na kaalaman sa wikang Filipino. Some of the subjects you will encounter in this course are Istruktura ng Wikang Filipino, Panitikang Filipino, at Ang Filipino sa Kurikulum ng Batayang Edukasyon.

Mathematics

Kung isa ka sa mga students na ginagawang mani ang pagsagot sa mga math problems like polynomial equations and trigonometric functions, good job! You can further hone those skills by taking a BSEd Major in Mathematics degree. This course will prepare you in teaching the different branches of Mathematics including algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, and statistics for high school.

Music, Arts, Physical Education, and Health (MAPEH)

In the MAPEH program, you will be prepared to handle high school subjects in Music, Arts, PE, and Health. This program focuses on teaching and conducting activities involving folk dances, sports, coaching and officiating sports events, music activities, and a lot more!

Sciences

This specialization is designed to prepare you in teaching science for high school students. You can choose from either Biological Science or Physical Science.

Social Studies

BSEd Major in Social Studies is also one of the education courses na pwede mong pagpilian. As a social studies major, you will gain fundamental knowledge in government and politics, economics, Philippines and world history, geography, Asian studies, Law, Socio-cultural Anthropology and many other interesting subjects.

Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE)

Home Economics, Basic Drafting, Entrepreneurship, Cosmetology, and Carpentry—ilan lang iyan sa mga exciting subjects na matututunan mo pag kumuha ka ng BSEd Major in TLE program. As a TLE teacher in the future, you will be able to teach students important life skills and attitude to help them become productive citizens in our society..

Values Education

Last but definitely not the least, BSEd Major in values Education is a four-year degree course designed to give you a fundamental understanding of the philosophical, socio-cultural, psychological, ethical and legal bases of values education. Bilang isang Values Education teacher, it is your job to make your students aware of the consequences of their actions and encourage them to practice positive values and good moral standards.

The field of education has so many options! When choosing the education course for you, it's good to consider the most specific interest you have. You can also talk to your school's guidance counselor to help you list possible options for you out there.

Time to start your education journey! With Bukas, you can enroll in any of our partner schools and become the teacher you’re called to be. We’re rooting for you!

Learn more about Bukas and how we make education affordable for thousands of Filipino students like you. Apply for a Bukas student loan in your upcoming enrollment, and join our growing community for more tips and advice about all things student life. A brighter future awaits. Sa'yo ang Bukas!

Written by: Karl Nucum