The Educational Policy Research and Development Office (EPRDO) is a specialized research unit in the University focused on policy research and studies on teacher education as mandated in Republic Act No. 9647 or the “Philippine Normal University Modernization Act of 2009.” It is established to provide research-based policy recommendations to policy makers. It also serves as a clearing house for all data relevant to teacher education in the Philippines and beyond.
Highlights of the most recent activities conducted by the unit.
This special edition of our Policy Brief Series presents a connected story that traces the ECCD teacher preparation ecosystem—from policy intent and institutional implementation to standards alignment and the systemic barriers that continue to shape pre-service teacher preparation.
Drawing from evidence, the series offers key insights into how policies are translated into practice and identifies opportunities to strengthen ECCD teacher education for the future.
The briefs are based on findings from our 2024-2025 research project, Enhancing Pre-service Teachers' Proficiency in Early Childhood Care and Development: A Policy-Driven Approach to Effective Program Development and Implementation.
📖 Read the full research report here: bit.ly/ECCDP1-FINAL-REPORT
Join us as we unpack the policies, practices, and challenges that influence the preparation of the next generation of ECCD educators.
The Teacher Education Council (TEC) has officially announced the release of its latest Discussion Paper, marking the institutionalization of the National Teacher Education Research Agenda (NTERA) 2026–2030. This landmark initiative, spearheaded by the Education Policy Research and Development Office (EPRDO), aims to provide a unified and strategic direction for teacher education research across the Philippines.
The release of NTERA signifies a shift toward a more "systemic approach," ensuring that research efforts from individual classroom studies to large-scale national initiatives are synchronized to improve the quality of Filipino educators.
The NTERA is not just a theoretical framework; it is a call to action for researchers, academic institutions, and policymakers. By institutionalizing this agenda, the TEC and EPRDO are providing a roadmap to ensure that research responds to the most pressing needs of the education sector over the next five years.
As stated in the official release:
"This systemic approach ensures that research responds to priority areas needed to enhance teacher quality across the professional continuum."
📖 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://tec.gov.ph/discussion-paper
📥 𝗩𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗔 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲–𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟬 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲:
Highlights the most recent published research.
Can researchers truly "thrive" in systems built on inequality? Or are we simply learning how to survive within them?
This newest publication explores this question by rethinking research excellence in contexts where scarcity, unequal access to resources, and global academic hierarchies continue to shape knowledge production.
The paper invites readers to move beyond traditional metrics of success and consider a more inclusive understanding of excellence—one grounded in epistemic justice, collaboration, and the transformation of the systems that shape research itself.
Because excellence should not only be measured by what we produce but also by the conditions under which knowledge is created.
Authored by Allen A. Espinosa, Ma. Arsenia C. Gomez, & Heidi B. Macahilig
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This study examines how climate change education (CCE) initiatives in Philippine basic education shape learners’ climate-related knowledge, awareness, behaviours, and perceptions of environmental well-being through the interconnected influences of families, schools, and communities. While many CCE initiatives focus on school-based knowledge and awareness, less attention has been given to how environmental practices are sustained across everyday socioecological contexts. Guided by action competence, intergenerational learning, and socioecological perspectives, the study integrates a systematic review of 109 Department of Education (DepEd) and government issuances with key informant interviews involving teachers and school-level programme implementers. Findings show that DepEd initiatives – such as YES-O, WASH programmes, and school-based greening activities – serve as critical entry points for environmental engagement but do not consistently lead to sustained behavioural change. The continuity of environmental practices depends on the degree of alignment across school, home, and community systems. Inconsistent family routines, limited local government unit (LGU) support, infrastructural constraints, and programme discontinuities weaken learners’ capacity to internalise environmental practices. Conversely, experiential learning, family modelling, lived experiences of climate risks, and active community participation strengthen children’s action competence and resilience. The study advances a socioecological alignment framework that conceptualises CCE as a relational and multi-level process shaped by structural, cultural, and institutional conditions. It argues that strengthening intergenerational learning, community engagement, and governance continuity is essential for cultivating sustained climate action. These insights offer implications for rethinking climate education in the Philippines and other climate-vulnerable and resource-constrained contexts.
Authored by Espinosa, A. A., Gomez, M. A. C., Miranda, P. A., Serafico-Reyes, N. M. A., Faylona, M. G. P. G., David, A. P., Cortez, L. A. S., Lansangan, R. V., Cadiz, A. P., Chan, J. R., & Borja, J. M. A. de.
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This study examined the coaching strategies and holistic approaches employed by volleyball coaches to enhance both the athletic performance and personal development of student-athletes, guided by goal-setting theory. A descriptive qualitative research design was utilized, involving semi-structured interviews with 13 participants (10 head coaches and 3 assistant coaches) from selected State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in Luzon, Philippines. Interviews were conducted face-to-face and online, lasting between 45 and 60 minutes, and generated rich narrative data on coaching practices and institutional conditions. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis with Atlas.ti version 25, following an inductive coding process. The findings revealed that coaches employ diverse strategies, including holistic athlete development, physical conditioning, resourcefulness in training, balancing of academic and athletic commitments, cultural sensitivity, environmental adaptation, and team communication. Holistic coaching practices emphasized character development, life skills acquisition, academic prioritization, mental resilience, and team cohesion. However, coaches reported significant institutional gaps, such as inadequate facilities, limited equipment, financial constraints, a lack of year-round training programs, and insufficient holistic support systems. This study proposes an innovative volleyball coaching training plan grounded in holistic development and goal-setting principles to support student-athletes in resource-constrained environments.
Authored by Aquino, J. M. D., Castulo, N. J., Santiago, A., Jolo, M. U., Marasigan, A. C., & Primeiro, U.
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Directory of researches and commentaries authored by the unit and its faculty researchers.