By Niña Christelle Sumintac, STRATCOM Correspondent

True to its designation as a Center of Excellence in Teacher Education, MMSU secured 2nd place among top-performing schools in the Elementary Level and 3rd in the Secondary Level in the September 2024 Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LEPT). The university also produced three topnotchers, as announced by the Professional Regulation Commission on December 13.

In the Secondary Level, Shandie Carbonell and Patricia Denisse Balico, both Bachelor of Secondary Education Science majors, obtained top rankings. Carbonell secured 8th place with a score of 93%, while Balico also ranked 9th with an average score of 92.80%. In the Elementary Level, Athena Astrid P. Calzada, a graduate of the Bachelor of Special Needs Education program, earned 9th place with a rating of 92.40%.

MMSU's latest performance has outperformed all previous records, demonstrating impressive progress. In the Elementary Level, 178 out of 189 candidates passed, resulting in a passing rate of 94.18%. For the Secondary Level, 385 out of 428 candidates passed, yielding a success rate of 89.95%. Both rates significantly surpassed the national passing rates.

MMSU OIC-President Prima Fe Franco expressed her pride during a meeting with the topnotchers at the FEM Hall on December 18. She commended not only the passers but also the faculty and staff of the College of Teacher Education (CTE). “This accomplishment is a true reflection of the Center of Excellence that MMSU continues to be,” she said.

CTE Dean Aris Reynold Cajigal shared his excitement, saying, “This is the best ranking our college has achieved so far. It reflects the hard work, dedication, and excellence of our entire community. We will continue to strive for even greater heights.”

The topnotchers also expressed heartfelt gratitude to their alma mater. “MMSU instilled values that motivated us and pushed us to continuously improve,” Carbonell shared. Balico highlighted how the university provided a strong foundation, shaping her into a professional teacher. Meanwhile, Calzada credited her success to the confidence MMSU instilled in her, particularly the belief that she could surpass any limits.

This latest success builds on the achievements of the March 2023 LEPT, where MMSU also produced a topnotcher. Joseph Ian Baloaloa, a Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Mathematics, ranked in the top 10, while the university achieved an impressive passing rate of 96.09% in the Elementary Level and 90.17% in the Secondary Level.

With its commitment to cultivating quality and top-performing educators, MMSU guarantees that the teachers of Northern Philippines will set the standard for excellence in education.