Rizal Technological University (RTU) has been recognized as a preeminent recipient of the Excellence in Quality Assurance in Teacher Education (EQUATE) Award, a commendation bestowed during a formal academic ceremony held at the  Manila Hotel on April 2, 2025. The event was inaugurated with a cultural prelude by RTU’s choral group, Himig Rizalia, who rendered interpretations of the Philippine National Anthem, Doxology, Commission on Higher Education Hymn, and the Bagong Pilipinas Hymn.

This accolade, conferred by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), acknowledges exceptional Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) throughout the Philippines that have demonstrated sustained commitment to pedagogical excellence and innovative educational methodologies. The EQUATE Awards recognize institutions that implement and maintain stringent quality assurance protocols while contributing to developing competent educational practitioners within the country.

RTU President, Dr. Ma. Eugenia M. Yangco served as the institutional representative at the conferment proceedings, formally accepting the recognition on behalf of the university. She was also accompanied by Dr. Rodolfo L. Ducut, Vice President for Finance and Administration (VPFA); Dr. Kristine Y. Opulencia, Vice President for Academics and Student Affairs; and Dr. Rizaldy E. Garcia, Director of the University Review and Related Instructions Office (URRIO).

RTU’s recognition manifests its unwavering dedication to fostering high-quality teacher education programs. The university’s College of Education (CED), under the deanship of Dr. Wendelyn Samarita, and the Institute of Human Kinetics (IHK), headed by its director, Dr. Mark Joseph Santos, have consistently demonstrated academic excellence by producing performing graduates in the Board Licensure Examination for Teachers (BLEPT).

The ceremonial proceedings featured addresses from distinguished academic and governmental figures who collectively emphasized the importance of quality teacher education in nation-building. The discourse centered on contemporary challenges in educational development and the strategic imperatives for advancing pedagogical excellence across the Philippines.

A substantive component of the academic event included the articulation of CHED’s strategic educational framework for Philippine teacher education. The discussion emphasized the importance of maintaining rigorous academic standards and quality assurance mechanisms across educational institutions nationwide.

As the highlight of the program, the Technical Panel for Teacher Education facilitated the formal recognition of awardees, during which RTU was officially acknowledged for its outstanding scholarly contributions to the discipline, receiving praise from the academic community.

This recognition not only establishes RTU’s academic preeminence as a center of excellence in teacher education but also heralds a new epoch in the institution’s storied legacy of pedagogical innovation. As the Philippines navigates the complexities of educational transformation in the global knowledge economy, RTU stands as a beacon of scholastic achievement and intellectual leadership—illuminating pathways for future generations of educators who will shape the nation’s intellectual capital and cultural patrimony. Through its unwavering commitment to educational excellence, RTU embodies the transformative power of knowledge in cultivating a society where education serves as the cornerstone of national development.

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Watch the ceremonial awarding through this link: https://youtu.be/UFo4xPjmu1Y