20 March 2026
De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and Philippine Normal University signed a Memorandum of Understanding on March 16, 2026 at PNU Manila. The partnership opens new opportunities for Deaf education and teacher training in the Philippines.
The agreement allows both institutions to work together on institutional capacity building, student practicums and internships, joint training programs, research and development, and community outreach initiatives that support learners with disabilities.
Chancellor Benhur Ong spoke about the need to train more Deaf teachers in the country. “There is a dearth of Deaf teachers in the Philippines. This impacts the quality of education that Deaf and hard-of-hearing students receive in basic education,” Ong said.
He shared that the partnership has already helped open the Board Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers review program to Deaf learners. “Together, we have made the Board Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers review program accessible to future Deaf teachers. Two of them passed the LET in September 2025.”
The collaboration also supports training programs that help educators and campus service providers create more inclusive learning environments. Faculty and staff from PNU have participated in Deaf Awareness training, Deaf Teaching Pedagogy sessions, and Deaf Learning Spaces workshops organized by Benilde’s School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies. Counselors from PNU also trained with the Benilde Wellbeing Center Deaf Unit to strengthen support systems for Deaf students.
PNU President Dr. Bert Tuga welcomed the partnership and spoke about the university’s long history in teacher education. “We were established in 1901, and we have retained that original mandate,” he said. “Ninety three percent of our academic programs in PNU are in teacher education.” Unlike other normal universities that have expanded into many degree offerings, PNU continues to focus on preparing educators. The university offers one of the most comprehensive sets of teacher education specializations in the country.
Tuga shared that PNU is also expanding its work in inclusive education. The university recently received compliance approval from the Commission on Higher Education for its Bachelor in Special Needs Education and is preparing to introduce graduate programs in special and inclusive education.
To support these efforts, PNU created a Gender Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Office that develops policies and programs that promote inclusion across the university. “This partnership is helpful to us,” Tuga said. “Through your expertise and experience, we can develop joint training programs and capacity building not only for PNU faculty but also for teachers who need stronger preparation in inclusive education.”
The partnership also builds on the existing collaboration of institutions within the South Manila Educational Consortium, where both Benilde and PNU work with universities in the area on curriculum development, faculty training, and institutional collaboration.
Benilde continues to play a leading role in Deaf education in the Philippines through programs that support Deaf learners from high school to college and into professional careers.
The Benilde Deaf School, launched in 2018, is the first bilingual bicultural high school program for Deaf students in the country. Classes use Filipino Sign Language as the primary language of instruction while also teaching written English and Filipino. At the college level, the School of Deaf Education and Applied Studies offers the Bachelor in Applied Deaf Studies, where Deaf students study language, culture, leadership, and community development while pursuing tracks in Visual Media Arts, Entrepreneurship, or Business Outsourcing Services Management. Benilde also offers the Bachelor in Sign Language Interpretation, which prepares students to work as professional interpreters and language facilitators between Deaf and hearing communities. The College also runs the Filipino Sign Language Learning Program, which welcomes both Deaf and hearing participants who want to learn Filipino Sign Language from Deaf instructors.
These initiatives form a connected system that supports Deaf learners from secondary education to college, research, community engagement, and professional training. Benilde’s work in Deaf education also builds on decades of advocacy within the College community. In 2025, the institution launched the Giselle Montero Legacy Fund, which continues the pioneering work of the longtime Deaf education advocate and educator who helped advance Filipino Sign Language recognition in the Philippines. The fund supports initiatives that strengthen Deaf education and provide emergency and well-being assistance to Deaf students, faculty, alumni, and partner communities.
Ong shared his hopes for the partnership as both institutions continue working together. “Together, we are creating a system that values Deaf learners as integral contributors to the future of the teaching profession and society.”
For more information on Benilde’s undergraduate programs, contact us at (63) 2 8230 5100 local 1801 or admissions@benilde.edu.ph. You may also visit our website at www.benilde.edu.ph.
