COTABATO CITY — The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) scored a landmark achievement in national education standards as fourteen teacher-examinees from the region placed within the Top 10 of the March 2026 Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET), the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) announced.

The results, released by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) on Tuesday, May 12, thirty-seven working days after the examination held on March 15, 2026, showed a strong Bangsamoro presence in the national rankings, with one examinee finishing as high as third place.

Leading the regional topnotchers is Jasmine Datu Imam Alimosa, who placed Top 3 in the national rankings. Four others — Nahida Guro Ansari, Sittiehaina Sarip Lauban, Bai Pamelag Pinguiamaan Mayasa, Fathea Nadine Omar Mahail, and Salha Samaod Sameon — all placed in the Top 5. Suhad Abdul Abdulgani and Sittie Abdul Abdulgani placed in the Top 8, while Eidreff Pangunotan Mendoza and Nulmijan Amilon Timbosol placed in the Top 9. Rounding out the list in the Top 10 are Mary Grace Estaca Arellano, Halimah Daud Barauntong, Yahya Gomogao Domaub, and Asria Abdul Sedik.

The MBHTE said the remarkable showing reflects the excellence, perseverance, and dedication of Bangsamoro teacher-candidates and brings both pride and inspiration to the region's education community.

A Historic Examination

The March 2026 LET was administered on Sunday, March 15, 2026, across at least 40 testing centers nationwide, including centers in Koronadal, Pagadian, Kidapawan, General Santos, and Zamboanga — locations accessible to Bangsamoro examinees.  

The PRC and the Board for Professional Teachers (BPT) announced that 18,376 elementary teachers out of 32,796 examinees (56.03%) and 45,001 secondary teachers out of 61,561 examinees (73.10%) successfully passed the Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers nationwide. 

The BPT administering the examination is composed of Dr. Rosita L. Navarro as Chairperson, Dr. Paz I. Lucido as Vice Chairperson, and Dr. Paraluman R. Giron as Member.  

The MBHTE and the Push for Quality Education

The feat comes amid sustained efforts by the MBHTE — the Bangsamoro government's department responsible for education from basic to higher and technical levels — to raise the quality of teaching standards across the region.

The MBHTE was formed by absorbing the functions of various regional offices of the Philippine national government for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), including the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).  

Central to the Ministry's vision is the principle that "no Bangsamoro learner shall be left behind" — a commitment repeatedly articulated by MBHTE Minister Mohagher Iqbal, who has championed inclusive and quality education since the BARMM transition began in 2019.

The Ministry has also pursued the Access to Higher and Modern Education (AHME) Scholarship, which carries the vision of "One Professional for Every Family" (BARMM Official Website) — an aspiration that the fourteen new topnotching teachers now embody.

What the Achievement Means

The performance of Bangsamoro examinees in a highly competitive national licensure exam signals a growing tide of academic excellence in a region long associated with armed conflict, underdevelopment, and educational disadvantage. Placing multiple examinees in the national top 10 — across both elementary and secondary levels — demonstrates that with proper support systems, Bangsamoro students can compete at the highest levels of professional standards.

The LET is a mandatory requirement for anyone wishing to practice the teaching profession in the Philippines. To pass, an examinee must obtain an average rating of not less than 75% and must have no rating lower than 50% in any of the tests.  Reaching the national top 10 requires scores well above 90%.

The MBHTE expressed hope that the achievement of these fourteen new Licensed Professional Teachers will inspire the next generation of Bangsamoro educators and reinforce the region's ongoing transformation — from a conflict zone to a model of peace, development, and intellectual excellence.