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  The QNHS Teaching Chair Scheme
 

Rationale 

The Quezon National High School Alumni Foundation proposes to establish the QNHS Teaching Chair Scheme, an innovative program to recognize and reward deserving QNHS faculty members. The Scheme aims to boost the competency, morale and professionalism of the teaching force to improve the students' learning environment.

The proposed Scheme is the secondary school version of the Professorial Chairs Endowment in public and private institutions of higher learning. This was pioneered by the University of the Philippines in the mid-70s to augment faculty salary and to improve performance in research and teaching. Later on, top universities like the Ateneo, UST and De La Salle adopted the scheme to keep their highly qualified and best performing professors. Many leading state universities and colleges have recently adopted the scheme for development purposes. If implemented in Quezon High, this would be the first of its kind in the secondary public school system.

This alumni-initiated program will provide financial and professional incentives to Chair holders. Properly implemented, the Scheme is expected to improve overall teacher competency, reinvigorate the School's total learning climate and raise the students' academic performance.


Specific objectives:

  1. To recognize and reward committed and competent teachers who are willing to teach special needs students - namely, the physically and intellectually challenged, those likely to drop out, the late bloomers, etc.
     
  2. To promote quality teaching and polish teachers’ research skills;
     
  3. To improve the School's total learning environment, raise the students' academic performance and hasten the revival of the School's co-curricular traditions and activities; and
     
  4. To encourage highly qualified QNHS teachers to remain in the school.


Funding and Cost

The Foundation will administer Teaching Chairs endowment that may be classified as follows:

  1. QNHSAF-sponsored Centennial Teaching Chair;
     
  2. Industry or firm-endowed Chair;
     
  3. Class, individual alumnus or alumni group-donated Chair.

In implementing the Scheme, the Foundation shall set common policies and minimum standards. However, Donors of Teaching Chairs have the option to specify:

  1. The subject areas and co-curricular activities to target; (1)
     
  2. Additional terms and conditions for their particular Chair.

On average, it will cost about twenty-five thousand pesos to maintain a Teaching Chair. This does not include prospective incentives like foreign scholarship/training which are expected to be sourced out by the Foundation or alumni members from their professional contacts.

The Foundation’s Finance and Fund-raising Committee with the assistance of the Communication and Publicity and Membership and Coordination Committees shall spearhead the solicitation of Chair endowments. A special trust account shall be set and maintained specifically for this program. 

Reward Package for the Chair Holder

  1. QNHSFA Medal of Merit and Certificate of Holding the Chair;
     
  2. P 24,000 minimum cash remuneration per annum which shall be paid monthly by the Foundation directly to the Chair Holder;
     
  3. In-service training
     
  4. Observation tour of model schools and best teaching practices;
     
  5. Scholarship and exchange program opportunities.

Eligibility

Any QNHS teacher, regardless of gender, religious or political affiliation and subject specialization and certified by duly constituted authority to be of good moral character and has not been charged of any offence, is eligible to be nominated or to apply for a Teaching Chair. The Scheme is open to any of the following:

  1. Young teachers with permanent appointment in any discipline and with at least 3 years of teaching experience;
     
  2. Senior teachers in any discipline who are not older than 60 at the time of appointment;
     
  3. Master Teachers may apply to hold a Chair if they give up their M.T. position.

Appointment to a Chair shall be for a three-year term which is renewable provided the Holder continues to be eligible and adheres to the standards set by the Foundation and the Donor of the Chair.

The Foundation or the special donor reserves the right to revoke appointment to a Chair anytime during the term after due process. Grounds for revoking the award include the following: conducts prejudicial to the school, violation of any of the terms of the Code of Professional Teachers and non-satisfactory performance of the standards and Terms and Conditions set by the School, the Foundation and the Donor.

Responsibilities and Obligations of Chair Holders

Every Holder of the Teaching Chair shall be required to sign a contract that sets the following obligations:

  1. To teach special needs students in QNHS for at least three years and/or advise a co-curricular assignment;
     
  2. To deliver an annual lecture on the results of action research done or a paper on effective teaching strategies;
     
  3. To develop teaching-learning materials and undertake to demonstrate their use;
     
  4. To serve as a resource person at in-service trainings;
     
  5. To conduct him/herself ethically as befits the teaching profession.

Selection Criteria

In support of the aims of the Scheme as set out in the Rationale and the Specific Objectives, selection of Chair Holders shall be chosen based on the following:

  1. Creativity and excellent communication skills;
     
  2. Exceptional love of teaching;
     
  3. Rapport with students of any ability;
     
  4. Willingness to remain a classroom teacher and a teacher-trainor;
     
  5. Commitment and willingness to work (at times) beyond the normal call of duty;
     
  6. Research ability; and
     
  7. Experience in and willingness to take up remedial teaching

Selection and Awarding

Applicants or teachers nominated for any Teaching Chair shall be chosen and appointed by the Foundation and the QNHS Principal through a Screening Committee composed of the following:

  1. The Department of Education Regional Director – Chair
     
  2. QNHSAF President - Co-chair;
     
  3. The Division Superintendent of Quezon – Member
     
  4.  Local NGO representative – Member;
     
  5.  Education Committee Chair of the Provincial School Board – Member;
     
  6.  QNHSAF Chair of Education Policy Committee – Member


The period for application, nomination and selection for the first batch of Chair Holders shall be set not later than the last three months of the School Year 2003-2004. Thereafter, the nomination process will be undertaken during the first semester of the School Year.

The selection of Chair Holders shall be announced at least one week before the opening of classes and the awarding ceremonies shall be held not later than the fourth week after the school opening. The Recognition and Awarding Ceremony shall be a joint undertaking of the School, the Foundation and the Chair donor.

For inquiries and for suggestions on improving the Scheme, please contact:

Atty. Romeo Dato
Chairman, QNHS Alumni Foundation
No. 247 Barangay Isabang
Lucena City Tel. No. 042-373-1461

Or the Co-chairs of the Education Policy Committee

Napoleon B. Imperial
Education and Manpower Development Division
Social Development Staff, NEDA
Amber Ave., Pasig City
Tel./Fax No. 631-3758

Dean Benilda Villenas
College of Arts and Sciences
M.S. Enverga University Foundation
University Site, Lucena City
Tel. Nos. 042-710-2541 loc. 218
Fax No. 042-373-6065

Prepared by

N B IMPERIAL
Chair, QNHS Alumni Foundation
Committee on Educational Policy
 

(1)  The Government has specified science and mathematics as priorities for development of subject competence in basic education.  However, in the light of the particular needs and problems of Quezon High students and the new Basic Education Curriculum, the Foundation shall be open to assist in developing competence in other subject areas.

 

  

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