Program Overview

Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEED) is a four year degree program designed to prepare students to
become primary school teachers. The program combines both theory and practice in order to teach students
the necessary knowledge and skills a primary school teacher needs. There are several major fields of
concentration in the BEED program, namely Early Childhood Education, Special Education, General Education,
English, Mathematics, Science, Filipino, Social Studies Music, Arts and Physical Education (MAPE) and
Technology and Home Economics (THE).

What Senior High School strand should I take for Bachelor of

Elementary Education?  

Students who are planning to take up Bachelor of Elementary Education can choose HUMSS (Humanities and
Social Sciences) as their senior high school strand. 

As a strand that provides subjects in the fields of Liberal Arts, Communication Arts, and Education, HUMSS
greatly fits for this bachelor's degree program in Elementary Education. 

Subjects and Curriculum

The BEED curriculum contains both General Education subjects (Basic English and Math, Filipino) and
Professional Education subjects. The General Education subjects can be classified into three major categories:
o Theory and Concepts subjects: Facilitating Learning, Child and Adolescent Psychology
o Methods and Strategies subjects: Curriculum Development, Developmental Reading
o Field Study subjects: – Practice Teaching
Depending on the school, elective subjects may also be integrated in the BEED curriculum.

The first three years in the BEED program are spent in classroom lectures and teaching demonstrations. A
Major’s Forum is also conducted weekly wherein students are given opportunities to review and
communicate what they have learned/experienced, be aware of current issues and trends in education and
to discuss matters relevant to teacher education and the teaching profession. 

Practice Teaching is done during the fourth year of study in both private and public elementary schools,
under the supervision of the class adviser who will also conduct periodic evaluation on the assigned student
teacher. 

Depending on the field of specialization a student chooses, an undergraduate research paper may be
required as a prerequisite for graduation.

Is teaching a profession?

Teaching is a profession. A graduate of BEED who passes the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) is
called a Licensed Teacher. The responsibilities of an elementary teacher include establishing and enforcing
rules for behavior and procedures for maintaining order, developing lesson plans and instructional materials
and providing individualized and small group instruction, evaluating students’ academic and social growth,
keeping appropriate records, and preparing progress reports, communicating with parents through
conferences and other means to discuss students’ progress and interpret the school program and
encouraging students to join extracurricular activities such as clubs, student organizations, and academic
contests.

What are the admission requirements for Bachelor of Elementary

Education?

Requirements at each school may differ, but these are the common requirements:
o Must be a high school graduate.
Those who did not complete high school education may opt to first attend Alternative Learning System
(ALS) and pass the Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT) to qualify for college. However, some
universities only offer selected courses for PEPT passers.
o High school QPA: some schools require a high school QPA of 80% and above with no grade less than
75% in all subjects.
o College entrance exam: must pass the college entrance examination.
o Teacher’s Aptitude Test: there are schools that will require students to take a separate Teacher’s
Aptitude Test.
o Interview: must pass the interview conducted by the college / university admission officer.
o National Secondary Assessment Test: some schools require a particular rating in the National
Secondary Assessment Test (NSAT).
(See sources 1, 2, 3)

What skills, traits and attitude will help you become a teacher?

o Being a good communicator – the ability to proficiently speak and write English and convey
information to students that is easy to understand.
o Interpersonal skills – establishing and maintaining positive mutual working relationships with
students, parents and co-workers.
o Patience – understanding student behavior, avoiding temper flares and finding possible solutions to
unpleasant situations.
o Being organized – having the ability to sort and arrange information in a systematic order, combine
ideas and relay them to the students in a clear, concise, and logical manner.
o Able to explain things in an age appropriate manner – teaching in primary school will expose you to
younger age groups, below 12 years old, and these children understand things in different ways than
adults or high school students do. It’s very important to explain lessons in the level of understanding
that your students are at.
o Being comfortable in public speaking – being able to speak in front of a class with 30-40 students
without losing your concentration and while keeping calm and composed.
o Able to establish authority – the ability to impose discipline in the classroom and obtain the respect
of ones students
o Able to deal with children – children at this age are very playful and active, they tend to think of play
more than study, as a primary school teacher you need to have a great amount of understanding for
children.

How difficult is Bachelor of Elementary Education?

BEED is considered an easy course. The subjects incorporated in its curriculum are simple and easy to
understand. One of the most important things when you take up this course is the desire and passion to
teach. If you have this, then you will be able to finish the program smoothly. However, the most difficult part
of the BEED course is the fact that you will be dealing with 6-12 old children. Children at this stage have short
attention spans and will always think of play. In addition, children have varied personalities and values; often
they may be difficult to understand. Your efficiency as a teacher, your patience and character will be tested
when dealing with the children.

How long does it take to complete the BEED program in the

Philippines?

The BEED program takes 4 years to complete (Note: this may change due to the K-12 integration). The
program may be completed in a shorter time in schools that follow the trimestral curriculum.

Review for the board exam may require a few additional months.

Student Practice Teaching

During the 4th year students undergo an intensive Student Teaching Program both in private and public
elementary schools. The Practice Teaching period is the culmination of the teacher preparation process.
Student teachers are given the opportunity to apply their knowledge and practice their skills in actual
classes. 

The number of hours required for the practicum varies from one school to another.

Fields of Concentration

The most common fields of concentration in the BEED program are as follows:
o Early Childhood Education – an educational program that teaches children from birth to eight years
old (pre-school age) with the main focus of guiding children learn through play and improving later
school performance.
o Special Education – an educational program that deals with students who have special needs (such
as the physically or mentally disabled) done through an especially designed set of instructions, support,
and services provided to students with an identified disability requiring an individually designed
instructional program to meet their unique learning needs.
o General Education – covers all of the basic information for each subject in primary education; a field
of study that has no specific specialization
o English – focuses on the foundation of the English language, fundamental rules in grammar and
composition, Children’s literature and reading comprehension.
o Mathematics – covers the most basic topics of arithmetic, geometry, measurements, mathematical
operations and expressions and equations.
o Science – a course of study that involves basic concepts of earth science, biology and physics; the use
of the scientific process is given much importance in the program
o Filipino – concentrates on the history and use of the Filipino language; covers basic concepts on
Filipino grammar and understanding Filipino literature
o Social Studies – covers Philippine History and Culture, Philippine geography and important Filipino
heroes and icons.
o Music, Arts and Physical Education (MAPE) – concentrates on Filipino music and arts, customary
dances and historic traditions
o Technology and Home Economics (THE) – a field of concentration teaching students livelihood skills,
vocational trainings and basic entrepreneurial skills.

Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET)

To be a licensed teacher in the Philippines, a graduate of Bachelor of Elementary Education needs to pass
the Licensure Examination for Elementary Teachers (LET). The examination is conducted by the Board of
Professional Teachers under the supervision of the Professional Regulations Commission (PRC). Starting 2014,
the LET exam will be conducted twice a year in the months of January and July. 

There are two parts in the exam: General Education (40%), Professional Education (60%) (See source). 

To pass the examination an examinee must obtain an average rating of not less than 75% and must have no
rating lower than 50% in any of the tests. You can view the passing rates in the Licensure Exam for
Elementary Teachers here.

Teacher Certificate Program

The Teacher Certificate Program (TCP) is a non-degree program designed for individuals who have completed
a Bachelor’s degree in any field and who intend to become teachers. TCP is the fastest way to get into the
Teaching Profession, because it requires only 18 units of Professional Education subjects to qualify for taking
the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET).

Individuals who complete the PTC are given a certification (NOT a degree or diploma) that they have
completed the 18-unit professional education requirement to be allowed to take the Licensure Examination
for Teachers (LET). (See sources 1, 2, 3)

Career opportunities for BEED graduates

o Jobs for Licensed Teachers (board exam passers)
o Entry Level jobs 
Jobs requiring no prior to minimal level of experience:
o Pre-school/Early Childhood teachers – teach children below 8 years old;
incorporate lessons through songs, teaching child development basics such as speech and
language, identifying colors, numbers, shapes and letters, fine and gross motor skills, and
social skills
o Teaching Assistant – works alongside teachers to support learning activities, helps
in planning lessons, prepares teaching materials and leads classes under the direction of the
teacher
o Substitute Teacher – helps students to learn subject matter and/or skills that are
required for scheduled lessons and to provide meaningful instruction for assigned classrooms
in the absence of the regular classroom teacher
o Private Tutor – assists students in improving academic achievement by meeting
with them on a regular basis to clarify learning problems and work on study skills
o Subject Teacher – a teacher who has no advisory class and who have one field of
expertise; delivers lessons in one subject area, does not act as full time teacher
o Mid-Level Positions

Require trainings and prior job experience of a few years:

o Elementary School teacher – responsible for instructing students in an elementary
school from grades 1 to 6; creates lesson plans, administers praise and constructive criticism,
instructs students on subjects such as science, literature, and math, and creates a well-
rounded, comprehensive instructional program.
o Daycare administrator – handles all the day-to-day operations of a children's
daycare center; in charge of all aspects of running the childcare program, including scheduling
trainings, planning educational activities, hiring and managing properly trained teachers,
recruiting new children to the center, handling the budget, and establishing well-defined
policies and procedures.
o Special Education teacher – works with students who have a wide range of learning,
mental, emotional, and physical disabilities; adapts general education lessons and teach
various subjects, such as reading, writing, and math, to students with mild and moderate
disabilities.
o Elementary School Administrator – responsible for the operation and instructional
leadership at an elementary school; trains and supervises staff, sets instructional objectives,
and works to build a rapport with parents.
o Subject Head – leads, manages, develops, and accountable for the subject team and
the specific subject area
o Discipline Officer – reports to the Elementary Principal; assist with the
implementation of the school-wide discipline program and the assigning of consequences for
students who fail to meet the minimum expectations of student behavior.
o Assistant Principal – responsible for assisting the school principal in the leadership,
coordination, supervision and management of the school program and operation.
o Administrator in the Department of Education, CHED or TESDA
o Advanced Positions

Require years of extensive experience and practice:

o School Supervisors/Superintendents – the chief administrative officer for a certain
district; responsible for the effective operation of the District; for the general administration
of all instructional, business or other operations of the District and for advising and making
recommendations to the Board of Education.
o Elementary School Principal – serves as the educational leader and chief
administrator of an elementary school, responsible for implementing and managing the
policies, regulations, and procedures of the Board of Education to ensure that all students are
supervised in a safe child-centered learning environment.
o Textbook and module writer – educators who became authors of books used in
different school subjects and educational reading materials
o Educational Consultant – serves in a consultive/supportive role with staff, students,
parents and representatives from local districts and community agencies; responsible for
coordination, development and implementation of instructional programs within assigned
areas
o Curriculum Developer – works under public educational agencies such as DepEd
and CHED; responsible for designing and implementing curricula that meets national and
institutional educational standards.
o Senior Administrator in the Department of Education, CHED or TESDA
o Jobs for Non Board Passers:
A graduate of Bachelor of Elementary Education who did not pass the Licensure Examination for
Teachers can still practice the profession, as long as he/she follows the conditions set by the
Professionalization act of 1994 as well as the rules set by the school. (See source) 

Most non-board passers land in the same teaching positions as board passers after graduation. While
they are employed in an institution, they are given a specific timeframe where they should be able to
pass the LET exam to become regular employees. However, many schools do not allow non-board
passers to hold some mid-level and advanced positions unless they pass the board exam.

o Working in Public schools vs. in Private Schools

Although private schools may offer quick and easy employment, most graduates of BEED still choose to
undergo the difficult process of getting hired in public schools, as being employed in by the government
means better job security and better benefits.

o Career Opportunities Abroad

Many non-English speaking countries are in need of English teachers, and this is the main source of
demand for Filipino teachers abroad (see source). 

Private tutors, pre-school and physical education teachers are also highly in demand in foreign countries
(see source). 

Some countries do not ask for additional requirements to be able to teach beyond your teacher license,
however, in the United States a Teacher Certification is needed for foreign educated teachers.
Additional requirements may also be necessary in the USA, depending on the state that you want to
work in (see sources 1, 2).

o Salary Levels
Salary levels of elementary school teachers will vary depending on the years of experience, rank and
position they hold in their school. 

An elementary teacher in a public school will start with a salary of P 20,000 (Teacher 1 salary as of
2018). 

Teachers in private schools usually earn less than those in publis schools.