Synthesizing the Research Landscape in Teacher Education: A Meta-Analysis of Priorities and Gaps within a State University's BEED Program
Mark John Belleza | Ma. Xerxa Doan Billones-franco | Noli Ballara | Ave Marie Genodia | Claire Bibit | Harly Israel Bandojo | Shirley Billones
Discipline: Education
Abstract:
Despite the proliferation of teacher education research in Philippine state universities, significant gaps remain in
synthesizing institutional priorities, thematic coherence, and alignment with national and global educational mandates.
Fragmented studies often lack integrative analysis, limiting their potential to inform curriculum reform, inclusive
practice, and pedagogical innovation. This study addresses these gaps through a meta-analysis of 17 research abstracts
compiled in the PAGPALAPNAG Compendium (2023–2025), a curated collection of undergraduate and faculty-led
inquiries from the Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEED) program at a state university. Employing a hybrid
methodology that combines meta-synthesis and systematic thematic review, the study applied Thomas and Harden's
(2008) three-stage coding process to extract recurring patterns and consolidate dispersed insights. The analysis
surfaced five dominant themes shaping the current research landscape: (a) teacher competence and professional
development, (b) inclusivity, equity, and student diversity, (c) culturally responsive pedagogy, (d) technology and
artificial intelligence (AI) integration, and (e) learner engagement, performance, and well-being. These themes reflect
a research culture that is inclusive, innovative, and context-sensitive, with strong alignment to Sustainable
Development Goal 4, Ambisyon Natin 2040, and the MATATAG Curriculum. However, persistent gaps were
identified in the integration of digital literacy, institutional support for marginalized learners, and the pedagogical
incorporation of Indigenous knowledge systems. The study concludes that regional teacher education institutions play
a critical role in advancing equity-driven and future-ready pedagogies. It recommends targeted interventions in
curriculum design, professional development, and policy reform to strengthen teacher formation and educational
outcomes in the Philippines.
References:
- Ahmed, I., & Sharma, S. (2023). A study of culturally responsive pedagogy: A literature review. International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews, 10(2), 1–12.
- Ainscow, M., & Sandill, A. (2010). Developing inclusive education systems: The role of organisational cultures and leadership. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 14(4), 401–416. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603110802504903
- Albert, J., Basillote, L., Alinsunurin, J., Vizmanos, J., Muñoz, M., & Hernández, A. (2023). Sustainable Development Goal 4 on Quality Education for All: How Does the Philippines Fare and What Needs to Be Done? https://doi.org/10.62986/dp2023.16
- Allen, K. (2019). Culturally responsive pedagogy in teacher education. Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Education. https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190264093.013.266
- Anderson, J., & Boyle, C. (2015). Inclusive education in Australia: Rhetoric and reality. Journal of Education Policy, 30(1), 108–121. https://doi.org/10.1080/02680939.2014.938964
- Ankomah, W. S. (2020). Diverse classrooms: Social justice, equity, and diversity competencies for teacher candidates. World Journal of Education, 10(2), 15–25. https://doi.org/10.5430/wje.v10n2p15
- Aravantinos, S., Lavidas, K., Voulgari, I., Papadakis, S., Karalis, T., & Komis, V. (2024). Educational approaches with AI in primary school settings: A systematic review. Education Sciences, 14(7), 744. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14070744
- Asiri, M. (2024). Analysing the effectiveness of policies and programs for sustainable development in the Philippines. Multidisciplinary Science Journal. https://doi.org/10.31893/multiscience.2024ss0526
- Barairo, P., Ramos, P., & MAEd, N. (2024). Gender Responsiveness in the Philippine Basic Education Context: Priority Thrusts and Initiatives in the Schools Division of Batangas City. Journal of Electrical Systems. https://doi.org/10.52783/jes.2336
- Bastida, E., Quimbo, M., Curuz, R., Serrano, E., Paunlagui, M., & Centeno, E. (2023). Towards Liberating Education. International Journal of Asian Education. https://doi.org/10.46966/ijae.v4i3.345
- Bishop, R. (2022). Educational resilience and indigenous values: A culturally responsive approach. Journal of Indigenous Education, 51(2), 45–60.
- Coleman, M. L., Ragan, M., & Dari, T. (2024). Intercoder reliability for use in qualitative research and evaluation. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 57(2), 136–146. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481756.2024.2303715
- Denzin, N. K. (2017). The research act: A theoretical introduction to sociological methods (4th ed.). Routledge.
- Diquito, T. (2024). Basic Education Curriculum under the Newly Implemented K to 10 (MATATAG) Curriculum in the Philippines: The Case of Science Education. American Journal of Education and Technology. https://doi.org/10.54536/ajet.v3i3.3396
- Drew K, Morris R, Tod D & Eubank M (2019). A meta-study of qualitative research on the junior-to-senior transition in sport. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 45, Art. No.: 101556. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychsport.2019.101556
- Fernández-Otoya, F., Cabero-Almenara, J., Pérez-Postigo, G., Bravo, J., Alcázar-Holguin, M. A., & Vilca-Rodríguez, M. (2024). Digital and information literacy in basic-education teachers: A systematic literature review. Education Sciences, 14(2), 127. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci14020127
- Gay, G. (2018). Culturally responsive teaching: Theory, research, and practice (3rd ed.). Teachers College Press.
- Hong, Q. N., Pluye, P., Fàbregues, S., Bartlett, G., Boardman, F., Cargo, M., Dagenais, P., Gagnon, M. P., Griffiths, F., Nicolau, B., O’Cathain, A., Rousseau, M. C., & Vedel, I. (2018). Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT), version 2018. Canadian Intellectual Property Office, Industry Canada. https://doi.org/10.3233/EFI-180221
- Iniesto, F., & Bossu, C. (2023). Equity, diversity, and inclusion in open education: A systematic literature review. Distance Education, 44(4), 694–711. https://doi.org/10.1080/01587919.2023.2267472
- Jentsch, A., & König, J. (2022). Teacher competence and professional development. In International Handbook of Comparative Large-Scale Studies in Education (pp. 1–17). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38298-8_38-1
- Levitt, H. M., Motulsky, S. L., Wertz, F. J., Morrow, S. L., & Ponterotto, J. G. (2017). Recommendations for designing and reviewing qualitative research in psychology: Promoting methodological integrity. Qualitative Psychology, 4(1), 2–22. https://doi.org/10.1037/qup0000082
- Lin, Y., Tang, K., & Zhang, L. (2025). AI literacy in Southeast Asian teacher education: Challenges and frameworks. Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, 53(1), 22–41.
- Liu, C., & Xu, Y. (2025). A visual analysis of the research literature on teachers’ digital literacy (2015–2024). Frontiers in Education, 10, Article 1597121. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2025.1597121
- Lomer, S., & Lim, M. (2021). Understanding issues of ‘justice’ in ‘free higher education’: policy, legislation, and implications in the Philippines. Policy Reviews in Higher Education, 6, 94 - 123. https://doi.org/10.1080/23322969.2021.2012242
- Lomibao, C. (2024). Implementation of Gender- Responsive Basic Education Policy in the Secondary Public Schools. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science. https://doi.org/10.47772/ijriss.2024.803438s
- Noah Jr., P. D. (2017). A systematic approach to the qualitative meta-synthesis. Issues in Informing Science and Information Technology, 14, 196-205. https://doi.org/10.48009/2_iis_2017_196-205
- Noblit, G. W., & Hare, R. D. (1988). Meta-ethnography: Synthesizing qualitative studies. SAGE Publications.
- Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., ... Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. PLOS Medicine, 18(3), Article e1003583. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003583
- Pedler, M., Yeigh, T., & Hudson, S. (2020). The teachers’ role in student engagement: A review. Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 45(3), 45–60. https://doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2020v45n3.4
- Polat, M. (2023). Teacher qualifications: A bibliometric analysis of Scopus (1952–2023). International Journal of Eurasian Education and Research, 13(2), 112–130.
- Prananto, K., Cahyadi, S., Lubis, F. Y., & Hinduan, Z. R. (2025). Perceived teacher support and student engagement among higher education students: A systematic literature review. BMC Psychology, 13, Article 112. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02412-w
- Rad, D., Redeș, A., Roman, A., Ignat, S., Lile, R., Demeter, E., Egerău, A., Dughi, T., Balaș, E., Maier, R., Kiss, C., Torkos, H., & Rad, G. (2022). Pathways to inclusive and equitable quality early childhood education for achieving SDG4 goal—a scoping review. Frontiers in Psychology, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.955833
- Ragoonaden, K., & Mueller, L. (2017). Indigenizing higher education: A transformative journey. Canadian Journal of Higher Education, 47(3), 1–15.
- Reyes, A. (2022). The Implementation of Indigenous Peoples Education (IPED) Program: Towards A Proposed Plan of Action. APJAET - Journal ay Asia Pacific Journal of Advanced Education and Technology. https://doi.org/10.54476/apjaet/69215
- Romo, A. (2023). Fragmented research cultures in Philippine HEIs: A call for synthesis. Philippine Journal of Educational Research, 41(2), 67–82.
- Samuels, A. J. (2018). Exploring culturally responsive pedagogy: Teachers’ perspectives on fostering equitable and inclusive classrooms. Journal of Education and Learning, 7(1), 116–130.
- Sandelowski, M., & Barroso, J. (2007). Handbook for synthesizing qualitative research. Springer Publishing Company.
- Selwyn, N. (2021). Should robots replace teachers? AI and the future of education. Polity Press.
- Tang, K., & Zhang, L. (2025). Digital competencies in Southeast Asian teacher education: A comparative study. Journal of Educational Technology and Society, 28(1), 55–70.
- Thomas, J., & Harden, A. (2008). Methods for the thematic synthesis of qualitative research in systematic reviews. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 8(45). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2288-8-45
- Tong, A., Flemming, K., McInnes, E., Oliver, S., & Craig, J. (2012). Enhancing transparency in reporting the synthesis of qualitative research: ENTREQ. BMC Medical Research Methodology
- UNESCO. (2022). Reimagining our futures together: A new social contract for education. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
- Villanueva, R., & Santos, M. (2021). Localized educational research and its limitations: A Philippine perspective. Asian Journal of Education and Development, 12(3), 89–104.
- Wahab, N. Y. A., Rahman, R. A., Hudin, H. N. S., Ramdan, M. R., Ab Razak, M. N., & Yadi, N. N. M. (2024). Impacts of workload on teachers’ well-being: A systematic literature review. TEM Journal, 13(3), 2544–2556. https://doi.org/10.18421/TEM133-80
- Xue, L., Ghazali, N., & Mahat, J. (2025). Artificial intelligence (AI) adoption among teachers: A systematic review and agenda for future research. International Journal of Technology in Education, 8(3), 802–824. https://doi.org/10.46328/ijte.1191
- Yim, S., & Wegerif, R. (2024). Student-parent resilience in higher education: A socio-cultural analysis. International Review of Education, 70(1), 33–52.
- Yip, S. Y., & Chakma, U. (2024). The teaching of Indigenous knowledge and perspectives in initial teacher education: A scoping review of empirical studies. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 48(3), 287–300. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2024.2327029.
- Zayimoglu Ozturk, F., Kopish, M., & Ozturk, T. (2025). The ongoing trend in teacher competence: A bibliometric analysis of Scopus. International Journal of Research in Education and Science, 11(1), 166–189. https://doi.org/10.46328/ijres.3619