A Study of the Philippine Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers: Secondary Level Ratings under the Enhanced Table of Specifications

Abstract

The Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LEPT) in the Philippines plays a crucial role in ensuring that qualified individuals enter the teaching profession. The LEPT has been a key gateway for Filipinos with bachelor's degrees and professional education units to pursue careers in teaching, which plays a significant role in addressing the country’s persistent teacher shortage. The purpose of this study includes: an examination of whether there is a significant difference between the overall exam ratings when LEPT overall scores were grouped according to type of school, academic program and area of specialization.  Also, whether, in combination, the type of school, academic program and the area of specialization predict the graduates’ overall LEPT ratings. This study examined the LEPT secondary level ratings of education and non-education graduates under the enhanced table of specifications introduced by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) through Board Resolution No. 11, series of 2022. A quantitative documentary analysis research design was employed. The study analyzed the performance of 349 samples of LEPT data from the March 2024 exam. The study utilized statistical tools including frequency distribution, mean, percentages, and standard deviation for descriptive analysis. An Independent Samples T-test was used. One-way ANOVA was used to examine the significant differences in the LEPT performance ratings across multiple groups, such as the area of specialization. Findings showed that there is a significant difference when the examinees were grouped according to type of school, the academic program and the field of specialization. Further, a combination of the type of school, the academic program and the specialization attribute accounts for 10% of the variation in the LEPT result. The type of school (p = 0.016) and academic program (p < 0.001) exhibit statistically significant effects on LEPT performance, while the area of specialization (p = 0.537) does not have a significant impact. The findings underscore the importance of academic preparation and institutional quality in determining licensure exam success. Other factors, not covered in this study, largely influence licensure outcomes.