The city government-run Bago City College (BCC) has produced its first-ever topnotcher in the licensure examination for teachers.
Donabelle Tubal Fernandez, a Bachelor of Secondary Education graduate, major in Social Studies, and a resident of the city’s Barangay Taloc, placed 10th in the September 2023 Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LEPT), garnering an impressive rating of 92.80 percent.
Her twin sister, Donnajean, also passed the board exam. In college, they graduated as magna cum laude and cum laude, respectively.
“I appreciate everyone who sent me congratulations. How I wish I could respond to all of you,” Fernandez said in a Facebook post.
She added that her “journey through passing the board exam for teachers was difficult and challenging. Every day, I review from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. or until midnight. I experienced a lot of anxiety and crying fits. Nevertheless, I simply give the Lord all of my worries. I prayed fervently, and indeed my request was granted. I never thought I would become a topnotcher.
“I used to think of it as just a dream, but who would have imagined that I would come to realize it,” the topnotcher also said.
The BCC Teacher Education Department, in a Facebook post, lauded Fernandez for serving as inspiration to others and for exemplifying hard work towards success, the city said in a press release Dec. 8.
“Your outstanding achievement (in the LEPT) is not just a testament to your remarkable academic preparation and unwavering determination, but also a beacon of inspiration for your fellow Education graduates and aspiring test-takers,” the department said.
It added that her journey is a shining example of what dedication and resilience can achieve.
The Professional Regulation Commission announced Dec. 7 that 23,782 elementary teachers out of 50,593 examinees (47.01 percent), and 53,995 secondary teachers out of 95,969 examinees (56.26 percent) hurdled the LEPT given Sept. 24 in Bangkok, Thailand and in 40 testing centers all over the Philippines.
Of the 23,782 elementary teacher passers, 16,716 are first timers and 7,066 are repeaters. For the secondary teachers, 39,979 passers are first timers and 14,016 are repeaters, it added. ||
