Three of Dumaguete City’s most prominent higher education institutions delivered standout performances in the March 2026 Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LEPT), with each school surpassing national passing benchmarks by wide margins, producing national topnotchers, and in several categories, achieving perfect passing rates — reinforcing the city’s long-held standing as one of the Philippines’ foremost centers for teacher education.
Foundation University, Negros Oriental State University (NORSU), and Silliman University each released their results through official statements and social media announcements, collectively painting a picture of a province whose teacher education programs consistently punch above the national average.
Foundation University Achieves Perfect Rate in Elementary Education
Foundation University’s College of Education turned in a flawless performance in the Elementary Education category, posting a 100 percent passing rate for its Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEED) first-time takers in the March 2026 LEPT. That figure stands more than 43 percentage points above the national passing rate of 56.03 percent for the Elementary Education category — a gap that underscores the strength of the institution’s academic preparation for aspiring elementary school teachers.
The university’s Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSED) program was equally competitive. Foundation University recorded a 92.31 percent passing rate in the Secondary Education category, clearing the national benchmark of 73.10 percent by more than 19 percentage points.
In its official announcement posted across its social media channels, Foundation University extended its congratulations to its newly licensed teachers and acknowledged the faculty and programs of its College of Education for making those results possible.
“Congratulations to the College of Education, whose training and support for these graduates made this impressive school performance rate possible,” Foundation University said in its statement. “Here at Foundation University, quality education produces quality educators.”
NORSU Graduate Claims Second Spot in National Rankings
Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) celebrated a landmark individual milestone after graduate Ms. Shauna Espina Tifora ranked second in the entire country in the Secondary Level category of the March 2026 LEPT, earning an outstanding rating of 95.00 percent. The achievement places NORSU alongside the country’s top-performing teacher education institutions in terms of producing elite board examination passers.
NORSU announced the distinction through its official social media channels, expressing that the university community was “incredibly proud” of Tifora and all other graduates who passed the examination. The Top 2 national ranking is a notable feat for a state university operating in the Visayas region, signaling the competitive quality of instruction being delivered at the institution.
Beyond Tifora’s individual honor, NORSU’s announcement emphasized the achievement of its collective batch of new Licensed Professional Teachers, welcoming them into the ranks of the country’s licensed educators.
Silliman University Produces Top 5 Placer, Records 100% Secondary Rate
Silliman University’s College of Education produced 13 newly licensed professional teachers from the March 2026 LEPT cycle, led by Dyann A. Tubio, who secured the fifth highest score nationally in the Secondary Education category with a rating of 94.20 percent. According to Silliman University’s official announcement, Tubio graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics degree before sitting for the secondary-level board examination.
The College of Education posted a 100 percent passing rate in the Secondary Education category covering both first-time takers and repeaters — a distinction that reflects consistent readiness across all levels of student preparation. In the Elementary Education category, first-time takers also achieved a 100 percent passing rate, with an overall rate of 83.33 percent when all takers in that category were included.
Silliman Student Group Highlights 92.86% Overall Passing Rate
The College of Education Student Organization (CESO) of Silliman University separately reported an overall passing rate of 92.86 percent for the March 2026 LEPT, noting the 100 percent first-time taker performance in both the Elementary and Secondary levels as the highlight of the examination cycle.
In its official statement, CESO described the results as a reflection of “the excellence, perseverance, dedication, and passion that define the College of Education community.” The organization also cited Tubio’s Top 5 national ranking as further evidence of the college’s competitive standing at the national level.
“CESO is beyond proud of each and every one of you,” the organization said. “Your hard work and determination have inspired the entire COE family, and we are excited to see you shape the future as future-ready educators.”
College Dean Points to Faculty and Cooperating Schools as Key Factors
Silliman University College of Education Dean Dr. Gina Fontejon Bonior credited the strong results to a shared effort among graduates, teaching faculty, and partner institutions that support the university’s teacher education program. In a statement carried through the university’s official channels, Dr. Bonior described the March 2026 LEPT outcomes as a testament to that collective dedication.
Dr. Bonior specifically highlighted the contributions of cooperating schools as essential partners in the pre-service training of teacher candidates, alongside the college’s longstanding commitment to academic rigor and values formation — qualities the university considers central to producing educators who are both technically proficient and morally grounded.
Silliman University has long positioned its College of Education as a producer of what it describes as “competent, compassionate, and globally competitive educators,” and the March 2026 LEPT results, according to the university’s own statements, are consistent with that institutional mission.
Negros Oriental Confirms Two Graduates in National Top Five
Taken together, the results from all three institutions confirm that at least two graduates of Negros Oriental-based universities — NORSU’s Tifora at second place and Silliman University’s Tubio at fifth place — ranked among the top performers in the entire country in the Secondary Education category of the March 2026 LEPT. That dual representation in the national top five from a single province is a notable achievement for the regional education sector.
The national passing rates for the March 2026 LEPT, as reflected in the institutional announcements, stood at 56.03 percent for Elementary Education and 73.10 percent for Secondary Education. All three Dumaguete City-based institutions that published results cleared both benchmarks by substantial margins, with Foundation University and Silliman University each recording perfect passing rates in one or more categories.
Newly Licensed Teachers Cleared to Enter the Profession
All graduates who passed the March 2026 LEPT are now legally qualified to practice the teaching profession in the Philippines, in both public and private educational settings. The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) administers the LEPT as the country’s qualifying examination for professional teacher licensure, and successful passers from this cycle will join the growing national pool of licensed educators available to schools at all levels.
Foundation University, NORSU, and Silliman University have each indicated, through their respective announcements, their commitment to sustaining the academic standards that their March 2026 results reflect. The examination cycle adds to a consistent track record of strong LEPT performances by Dumaguete City’s major universities, which have regularly appeared in national institutional rankings over successive examination periods.
The results are expected to contribute further to the city’s and province’s reputation as a reliable source of high-caliber professional teachers for schools across the Philippines.
Originally reported by: breakingnewsnegrosoriental.com
