The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), through its Office of Programs and Standards Development (OPSD), recognized four (4) Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) in Caraga during the 2025 Excellence in Quality Assurance in Teacher Education (EQUATE) Awards held on April 02, 2025 at the Manila Hotel, Ermita, Manila.

This national recognition aims to honor TEIs across the country that have demonstrated outstanding performance in the Board Licensure Examinations for Professional Teachers (BLEPT) and have consistently upheld the highest standards in delivering quality pre-service teacher education programs.

Among the awardees are Caraga State University (CarSU) Main Campus for both its secondary and elementary levels; Northeastern Mindanao State University (NEMSU) – Tagbina for its secondary level; Agusan del Sur State College of Agriculture and Technology (ASSCAT) and Philippine Normal University (PNU) Mindanao for their elementary levels.

The event was also highlighted by the discussion on CHED’s Strategic Directions in Philippine Teacher Education presented by Professor Edizon A. Fermin, PhD, Chairperson of the Technical Panel for Teacher Education.

Inspirational messages were also delivered by distinguished leaders, including Hon. J. Prospero W. de Vera III, Chairperson of CHED; Hon. Mark O. Go, Chairperson of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Vocational Education; Hon. Alan Peter Cayetano, Senator and Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical, and Vocational Education; and Hon. Lucas P. Bersamin, Executive Secretary of the Philippines.