The Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan School of Education has successfully secured an extension of its designation as a Center of Excellence (COE) for Teacher Education. The recognition was awarded on 27 November 2024, during a ceremony at the Bulwagan ng Karunungan, Rizal Building, Department of Education (DepEd) Central Office in Pasig City.

The extension was given by the DepEd Central Office's Teacher Education Council Secretariat (TECS) in compliance with Republic Act No 11713, also referred to as the Excellence in Teacher Education Act. The Act gives the TECS the authority to choose and name both public and private Teacher Education Institutions (TEIs) as Centers of Excellence. As part of CHED’s duty to oversee, supervise, and regulate TEIs, these designations also support the TECS's strategic initiatives to create COEs in various provinces and areas.

Under the extension, the Teacher Education Council (TEC) will get critical support from the Teacher Education Centers of Excellence (COEs) in several important areas. These include contributing technical knowledge to the study and reworking of the pre-service teacher education curriculum, helping to create a recognition and performance system to identify and designate Teacher Education COEs, and tackling other TEC priority tasks. COEs are also required to set up a specific focal person or team within their organizations to actively work with TEC projects, guaranteeing the smooth execution of these objectives.

Xavier University is among 34 higher education institutions nationwide that have been granted the COE extension for Teacher Education from November 2024 to November 2025. Collectively, these institutions are tasked with assisting TEC in strategically enhancing teacher education, particularly in developing recognition systems and curriculum improvements.

This recognition reinforces Xavier University’s commitment to excellence and innovation in teacher education, solidifying its role as a leader in shaping the next generation of educators in the Philippines.

Dr Edralin C Manla, Dean of the Xavier University School of Education, personally received the recognition plaque on the university’s behalf.