Aimed at preparing pre-service teachers (PSTs) for their upcoming internship program, BiPSU's School of Teacher Education (STED) held a week-long pre-departure orientation seminar (PDOS) series at the university gymnasium from November 5 to 8. 

The said activity aims to fully equip PSTs with essential skills and knowledge as part of their experiential learning courses, ensuring they are well-prepared for real-world teaching experiences.

The seminar series began by focusing on capacity-building for PSTs, with resource speakers from Leyte and Biliran divisions leading discussions to strengthen their foundational teaching skills. As the seminar progressed, the topics shifted to more specialized areas, such as classroom-based action research, gender and development, and personality development.

In his message, University President Dr. Victor C. Cañezo, Jr. emphasized the seminar’s importance, noting that it not only enhances the PSTs' professional skills but also boosts their confidence to inspire, lead, and uplift every student they encounter. 

“The experience you gain now will shape not just your teaching practices but also your approach to life,” he said. “Reminder, teaching is not just a profession, it's a lifelong mission of influence and transformation” 

Following the initial seminars, PSTs participated in interactive workshops, including a session on lesson planning, which allowed them to practice what they had learned in real-time. The seminar ultimately concluded with a teaching pageant, offering PSTs the chance to showcase their abilities in a supportive yet competitive environment, further honing their teaching skills.

In an interview, Dr. Maribel N. Zipagan, dean of STEd, expressed strong confidence in this year’s cohort, stating that they are thoroughly trained and equipped to manage real-world teaching tasks.

“With the expertise they have acquired, I am very confident that this year's PSTs are well-trained and well-versed to handle actual work,” Dr. Zipagan said. “I truly believe they are more than capable of applying what they’ve learned, especially since the commitment demonstrated by this batch gives me every confidence that they are ready to make a significant impact in the field of education.”

#WOWBiPSU

[This article aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education.]