DUMAGUETE CITY — Three major universities in Dumaguete City and Negros Oriental posted exceptional results in the March 2026 Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LEPT), with institutions recording 100 percent passing rates, producing national topnotchers, and significantly surpassing the national average in both the Elementary and Secondary Education categories.
Foundation University, Negros Oriental State University (NORSU), and Silliman University all announced their results in official statements and social media posts, collectively reinforcing the province's reputation as one of the country's recognized centers for teacher education.
Foundation University Records 100% Passing Rate in BEED
Foundation University's College of Education recorded a 100 percent passing rate for its Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEED) first-time takers in the March 2026 LEPT — more than 43 percentage points above the national passing rate of 56.03 percent for the Elementary Education category.
The university's Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSED) program also performed strongly, achieving a 92.31 percent passing rate against the national passing rate of 73.10 percent for the Secondary Education category — a margin of more than 19 percentage points above the national benchmark.
In a statement posted on its official social media pages, Foundation University congratulated its newly licensed teachers and credited the achievement to the dedication of its graduates and the strong academic training provided by the institution's College of Education.
"Congratulations to the College of Education, whose training and support for these graduates made this impressive school performance rate possible," the university said in its statement. "Here at Foundation University, quality education produces quality educators."
NORSU Graduate Ranks Second Nationwide in Secondary Level
Negros Oriental State University (NORSU) celebrated a landmark individual achievement after one of its graduates, Ms. Shauna Espina Tifora, ranked second nationwide in the Secondary Level category of the March 2026 LEPT, obtaining an outstanding rating of 95.00 percent.
NORSU extended its congratulations to Tifora and all of the university's new Licensed Professional Teachers in an official announcement posted on its social media channels. The university described the NORSU community as "incredibly proud" of the accomplishments of its examinees.
Tifora's Top 2 national ranking places NORSU among the country's leading teacher education institutions in terms of producing high-performing board examination passers, a significant achievement for a state university in the Visayas region.
Silliman University Produces Top 5 Placer, Posts 100% Secondary Passing Rate
Silliman University's College of Education produced 13 newly licensed professional teachers in the March 2026 LEPT, headlined by Dyann A. Tubio, who secured the fifth highest rank nationwide 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 from the university before qualifying for the secondary-level licensure examination.
The College of Education recorded a 100 percent passing rate in the Secondary Education category for both first-time takers and repeaters — a distinction that reflects consistent preparation and training across all levels of student readiness. In the Elementary Education category, the college achieved a 100 percent passing rate among first-time takers, with an overall passing rate of 83.33 percent across all takers in that category.
Silliman University Student Organization Cites 92.86% Overall Rate
The College of Education Student Organization (CESO) of Silliman University separately announced an overall passing rate of 92.86 percent for the March 2026 LEPT, highlighting the institution's 100 percent passing performance among first-time takers in both Elementary and Secondary levels.
In its announcement, CESO described the milestone as a reflection of "the excellence, perseverance, dedication, and passion that define the College of Education community," and noted that the results were further distinguished by the Top 5 national placer who achieved a 94.20 percent rating.
"CESO is beyond proud of each and every one of you," the organization said in a statement. "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."
Dean Bonior Credits Faculty, Cooperating Schools, and Values Formation
Silliman University College of Education Dean Dr. Gina Fontejon Bonior attributed the outstanding performance to the collective efforts of graduates, faculty members, and partner institutions. In a statement carried by the university's official channels, Dr. Bonior described the results as a testament to the dedication of all parties involved in the teacher education process.
Dr. Bonior specifically cited the role of cooperating schools in the university's teacher education program, as well as the institution's long-standing commitment to both academic excellence and values formation as foundations of its graduates' competitiveness at the national level.
The College of Education's performance in the March 2026 LEPT further strengthens Silliman University's reputation as one of the country's premier teacher education institutions, consistently producing what the university describes as "competent, compassionate, and globally competitive educators."
Dumaguete City Upholds Standing as Teacher Education Hub
The combined results from Foundation University, NORSU, and Silliman University in the March 2026 LEPT underscore Dumaguete City's continuing prominence as a national center for teacher education. The city's major higher education institutions have consistently produced board topnotchers and above-average passing rates across successive licensure examination cycles.
The March 2026 LEPT results represent a significant milestone for the local education sector, with at least two national topnotchers — NORSU's Tifora at second place and Silliman University's Tubio at fifth place — emerging from institutions based in the province of Negros Oriental.
The national passing rates for the March 2026 LEPT, as reflected in the institutional announcements, stood at 56.03 percent for the Elementary Education category and 73.10 percent for the Secondary Education category. All three Dumaguete-based institutions that released results surpassed both national benchmarks by significant margins.
Newly Licensed Teachers Set to Enter the Profession
The newly minted Licensed Professional Teachers from the three institutions are now eligible to practice the teaching profession in the Philippines following their successful completion of the March 2026 LEPT. The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) administers the LEPT as the qualifying examination for individuals seeking licensure as professional teachers in both public and private educational institutions nationwide.
The March 2026 cycle joins a long record of strong LEPT performances for Dumaguete City's universities, which have regularly appeared in national rankings and above-average institutional passing rates in recent examination periods. The results are expected to contribute to the growing pool of licensed educators available to schools across the country.
Foundation University, NORSU, and Silliman University have each indicated they will continue their respective teacher education programs with the same commitment to academic quality that their March 2026 results reflect.
Photo credit: Photo courtesy of Silliman University College of Education / Foundation University / NORSU (via official social media pages)