CODE OF

CONDUCT FOR
TEACHERS
KENETH JOYCE S. CRUZ
Protect and Promote Right of All
Citizens to Quality Education
Article XIV, Section 1 –
• “The State shall protect and promote the right of all
citizens to quality education at all levels and shall
take appropriate steps to make such education
accessible to all.”
Formation and Strengthening of ethical
and Spiritual Values, Develop Moral
Character and Personal Discipline
Article XIV, Section 3 (2) –
• “(All educational institution) shall xxx foster love of
humanity, respect for human rights xxx teach the rights and
duties of citizenship, strengthen ethical and spiritual values,
develop moral character and personal discipline xxx.”
 Angeles vs. Sison (112 SCRA
26)
• “A college xxx has a dual responsibility to its
students. One is to provide opportunities for
learning and the other is to help them grow and
develop into mature, responsible, effective and
worthy citizens of the community. Discipline is one
of the means to carry out the second
responsibility.”
 What is quality education?

• “xxx making sure that basic education is really solid,

because if it is not solid, it affects the quality of
secondary education. If secondary education is poor,
then the person goes to college unprepared for college
work. And if he is allowed to graduate again with a
poor quality college education, he goes to university
professional education even more unprepared.”
-Rev. Fr. Joaquin Bernas, SJ
 What is quality education?

A school, before promoting or graduating a student,

must be sure that he/she (the student) is functionally
literate to go through next higher level.
-Atty. Ulpiano P. Sarmiento III
Former DepEd Undersecretary
 Four Basic Duties to Ensure
Quality Education
• Delivery of Core Competence Necessary to Ensure
Functional Literacy of Each Student
• Strictly Adhere to Minimum Personnel (Academic)
Qualifications
• Continuous Evaluation of Faculty and Staff
Competence and Efficiency
• Evaluate Students: Determine Level of Learning
Competencies
 Delivery of Core Competence

• Minimum course curriculum required

• Length of school cycle
 Possess minimum academic
qualifications
• These are mandated by law, rules and regulations
 Possess minimum academic
qualifications
• “xxx educational institutions are impressed with
public interest xxx are under the control and
supervision of the State. Xxx Squarely, all laws,
rules and regulations governing educational
institutions are mandatory in character and shall be
strictly complied with. Any waiver to this effect
will be against public policy. Xxx (For) xxx it will
xxx open the door to the employment of direful
low quality and inefficient faculty xxx.”
Aklan College, Inc. vs. Guarino
(530 SCRA 41, Aug. 14, 2007
• The Supreme Court ruled that the fact that
respondent was retained as acting dean for 17 years
did not give him a vested right to occupy in a
permanent capacity xxx not being a master’s
degree holder, he was never and could never have
been appointed in a permanent capacity, as, he is
not qualified under the law.”
Must be competent and efficient

Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers,

• Art. IV, Section 2 –
• “Every teacher shall uphold the highest possible
standards of quality education, shall make the best
preparation for the career of teaching, and shall be
at his best at all times in the practice of his
profession.”
Must be competent and efficient

• A teacher is expected to be efficient and competent

in the performance of his academic duties at all
times.
• Otherwise, a teacher who has consistently shown
his ability to efficiently perform his duties and
responsibilities, within a common performance
standards should not be allowed to stay in school
xxx.
Must be competent and efficient

Section 121 (2), Manual of Regulations for Private

Higher Education (MORPHE) provides –
• “Gross inefficiency and incompetence in the
performance of duties such as, but not limited to
failure to cope with the reasonable standard of
efficiency and competence of the institution;
habitual absences and tardiness from classes, and
wilful neglect of employment or assignment.”
 Evelyn Pena vs. NLRC

• “xxx schools can set high standards of efficiency

for its teachers since quality education is a mandate
of the Constitution xxx (s)ecurity of tenure xxx
cannot be used to shield incompetence.”
Must be competent and efficient

Duty to continually evaluate teachers

• IPCRF
• Dropping from the rolls
 Absences / Tardiness

• to be considered valid causes for termination under

Sec. 94 of MRPS, Sec. 78 of TVET Manual and
Art. 283 of the Labor Code, absences and tardiness
must be habitual and inexcusable.
 RRACCS: Habitual Tardiness

• Ten (10) times a month for at least two (2) months

in a semester or two (2) consecutive months during
the year.
 Undertime

• Less than the time allotted for the fixed working

hours (8hrs)
• Ten (10) times a month for at least two (2) months
in a semester or two (2) consecutive months during
the year, liable for Simple Misconduct and/or
Conduct Prejudicial
 Absences / AWOL

• At least 30 working days

• Less than 30 working days
• Substantial absences – less than 30 working days, 3
times in a semester.
• If continuously absent without approved leave for
at least 30 days, separated from the service or
dropped from the rolls without prior notice.
Valiao vs. CA, G.R. No. 146621,
July 30, 2004
• “Repeated acts of absences without leave and
frequent tardiness reflect an indifferent attitude to
and lack of motivation in his work.”
 Evaluate Students: Determine
Level of Learning Competencies
Section 16 (3) of BP 232, otherwise known as the
Education Act of 1982, Teacher shall –
• “Render regular reports on performance of each
student and to the latter and the latter’s parents and
guardians with specific suggestions for
improvement.”
 In computing the grades –

Section 16 (5) of BP 232 mandates that a teacher

shall –
• “Refrain from making deductions or additions in
student’s scholastic ratings for acts that are clearly
not manifestations of xxx scholarship.”
 In evaluating/giving grades the following
rules of conduct must be observed –

Code of Ethics provides –

• Art. VIII, Section 1
• “A teacher has a right and duty to determine the academic
marks and the promotions of learners in the subject or
grades he handles, provided that such determination shall
be in accordance with generally accepted procedures of
evaluation and measurement. In case of any complaint,
teachers concerned shall immediately take appropriate
actions, observing due process.”
 In evaluating/giving grades the following
rules of conduct must be observed –

Art. VIII, Section 3

• “Under no circumstance shall a teacher be prejudiced or
discriminate against a learner.”

Art. VIII, Section 4

• “A teacher shall not accept favours or gifts from learners,
their parents or others in their behalf in exchange for
requested concessions, especially if undeserved.”
 In evaluating/giving grades the following
rules of conduct must be observed –

Art. VIII, Section 6

• “A teacher shall base the evaluation of the learner’s
work only in merit and quality of academic
performance.”
• For a teacher to do otherwise, would be serious
academic malpractice or grave misconduct in the
performance of his/her duties.
 Santos vs. NLRC, Hagonoy
Institute, Inc.
• “As teacher, (one) serves as an example to his/her pupils xxx.
• Consequently xxx teachers must adhere to the exacting
standards of morality and decency. xxx A teacher both in his
official and personal conduct must display exemplary
behaviour.
• He must freely and willingly accept restrictions on his
conduct that might be viewed irksome xxx the personal
behaviour of teachers, in and outside the classroom, must be
beyond reproach xxx they must observe a high standard of
integrity and honestly.”
 THANK YOU!

• Sources:
• MCLE Lectures
• Supreme Court Cases