3RD PLACER. Thomas Jefferson Fernando, a graduate of Pangasinan State University Asingan campus, garnered a 92.20-percent average rating and was among the 15,696 who passed the January 2022 Licensure Examination for Teachers elementary level. The other third placers were Jessica Angelee Baquiran, Jenny Grace Moreno, and Jonald Traquina. (Photo courtesy of Thomas Jefferson Fernando)
DAGUPAN CITY – A 33-year-old graduate from the Pangasinan State University (PSU) Asingan campus under the Expanded Tertiary Accreditation Equivalency Program (ETAEP) ranked third in the January 2022 Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET).
Thomas Jefferson Fernando, who hailed from Moncada, Tarlac, garnered a 92.20-percent average rating, and was among the 15,696 who passed the LET elementary level.
In an interview on Monday, Fernando said he could not believe this achievement that he was among the new licensed teachers in the country.
Fernando said he really wanted to earn a college degree until he learned about the ETAEP of the PSU wherein all his academic achievements and acquired experiences were carried out to enroll in a degree program.
“May nakilala ako noon na nasabi yung program na ino-offer ng PSU-Asingan. Hindi na ako nagdalawang isip dahil gusto ko talagang makapagtapos. Dahil sa hirap ng buhay, ako ang nagtaguyod sa aking pag-aaral at nag-working student ako (I met somebody who told me about the program being offered by PSU-Asingan. I did not think twice because I really wanted to finish college. Because of poverty, I worked while studying),” he said.
Fernando said he is grateful to PSU for having such a program that gives other people the opportunity to pursue their dreams.
ETAEP is a comprehensive educational assessment program which recognizes knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values obtained by individuals from formal, non-formal, and informal education, as well as training and work-related experiences.
It is an avenue of learning for non-degree holders who are working in different offices and industries intending to finish their degrees without moving out of their work area, according to PSU.
Fernando added he really took advantage of the pandemic situation to expand learning.
“I saw this opportunity to excel because with the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) around us, everything was online and there were plenty of resources that I could use. I made a lot of sacrifices to pass the examination and make my family proud despite our poverty,” he said.
While reviewing for the board examination, Fernando has been working as a private school teacher in Taytay, Rizal. He has been teaching for three years now.
“If you really want to pursue something, age doesn’t matter,” he said.
He also urged other students not to lose hope and never be afraid of life’s challenges.
Fernando said there are now a lot of opportunities that are coming up for him but he is considering working in the country as a way of giving back to the community. (PNA)
