BATAS PAMBANSA

232
Batas Pambansa 232, otherwise known
as the Education Act of 1982 (see
Appendix B), was signed into law by
President Ferdinand E. Marcos. Section
10, 11, and 16 of this law are helpful in
understanding the rights and duties of
teachers.
Section 10. Rights of all School
Personnel. In addition to other
rights provided for by law, all
school personnel shall enjoy the
following rights:
1. The right to free expression of
opinion and suggestions, and to
effective channels of
communication with appropriate
academic and administrative bodies
of the school or institutions.
2. The right to be provided with free legal service by the
appropriate government office in the case of public
school personnel, and through the school authorities
concerned in the case of private school personnel, when
charged in an administrative, civil and/or criminal
proceedings by parties other than the school or
regulatory authorities concerned for actions committed
directly in the lawful discharge of professional duties
and/or in defense of school policies.
3. The right to establish, join and
maintain labor organizations and/or
professional and self-regulating
organizations of their choice to
promote their welfare and defend
their interests.
4. The right to be free from
involuntary contributions except
those imposed by their own
organizations.
Section 11. Special Rights and/or
Privileges of Teaching or Academic
Staff. Further to the rights mentioned in
the preceding Section, every member of
the teaching or academic staff shall
enjoy the following rights and/or
privileges:
1. The right to be free from compulsory
assignments not related to their duties
as defined in their appointments or
employment contracts, unless
compensated therefore, conformably to
existing law.
2. The right to intellectual
property consistent with
applicable laws.
3. Teachers shall be deemed
persons in authority when in the
discharge of lawful duties and
responsibilities, and shall,
therefore, be accorded due respect
and protection.
4. Teachers shall be accorded the
opportunity to choose alternative
career lines either in school
administration, in classroom
teaching, or others, for purposes of
career advancement.
Section 16. Teacher’s Obligations. Every
teacher shall:

1. Perform his duties to the school by

discharging his responsibilities in
accordance with the philosophy, goals, and
objectives of the school.
2. Be accountable for the efficient
and effective attainment of
specified learning objectives in
pursuance of national development
goals within the limits of available
school resources.
3. Render regular reports on
performance of each student and to
the latter and the latter’s parents
and guardians with specific
suggestions for improvements.
4. Assume the responsibility to
maintain and sustain his
professional growth and
advancement and maintain
professionalism in his behavior at
all times.
5. Refrain from making
deductions in students’
scholastic rating for acts that
are clearly not manifestations of
poor scholarship.
6. Participate as an agent of
constructive social, economic,
moral; intellectual, cultural and
political change in his school and
the community within the context
of national policies.
 REPUBLIC ACT 7836
The government has long recognized the vital role of
teachers in the development of the nation. However, it was
only when President Ferdinand E. Marcos issued
Presidential Decree 1006 on September 22, 1976 that
formally organized the National Board for Teachers. This
was the first board to supervise the teaching profession in
the country. All teachers then have to take the Professional
Board Exam for Teachers otherwise known as PBET.
On, December 16, 1994, trough the enactment of Republic
Act 7836, a law titled An Act to Strengthen the Regulation and
Supervision of the Practice of Teaching in the Philippines and
Prescribing a Licensure Examination for Teachers and for
Other Purposes otherwise known as the Philippine Teachers
Professionalization Act of 1994 that regulation and licensing
of teachers was transferred to the jurisdiction of the
Professional Regulations Commission or PRC. This made the
teaching profession or teachers to be equal or at par with other
professionals such as medical doctors, engineers, lawyers, and
nurses, among others.
R.A. 7836 (see Appendix C) also
includes the supervision and regulation
of the Licensure Examination for
Teachers otherwise known as LET. It
covers all teachers in all levels of
education from preschool to secondary
whether part-time or fill-time.
• Article I provides the statement of policy, objectives,
and definitions of important terms used in the law.
• Article II discusses the composition and functions of
the board for professional teachers. It also includes
necessary qualifications of the members of the
board.
• Article III explains the examination and the
registration rules and procedures. It provides
information on the following areas.
1. Scope of Examination
2. Qualification Requirements of Applicants
3. Report of the Results of the Examination
4. Issuance of Certificate of Registration and Professional License
5. Oath Before Practice
6. Periodic Merit Examination of Teachers
7. Failure to Pass the Merit Examination
8. Incentives for Passing the LET
9. Integration of the Teaching Profession
10.Revocation of the Certificate of Registration, Suspension from the Practices of the
Teaching Profession, and Cancellation of Temporary or Special Permit
11.Registration Procedures
This law recognizes the vital contributions of
teachers in nation building and development.
Teachers are responsible for the development of
good and literate citizens. It is the role of the
state to ensure quality education among all its
citizens by professionalizing the practice of the
teaching profession in the whole country.
 REPUBLIC ACT OF 9293
This law is an amendment of certain sections or
RA 7836 otherwise known as the “Philippine
Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994.” The
Congress enacted this amendment on April 21,
2004 (see Appendix D). The following are the
amendments done:
• Section 15, (e)(3) of the Republic
Act No. 7836
“SEC. 15. Qualification Requirements of Applicants. No
applicant shall be admitted to take the examination unless,
on the date of filing of the application, he shall have
complied with the following requirements:
“(e) A graduate of a school, college or university recognized
by the government and possesses the minimum educational
qualifications, as follows:
1. For teachers in preschool, a bachelor’s degree in early childhood
education (BECED) or its equivalent;
2. For teachers in the elementary grades, a bachelor’s degree in
elementary education (BSEED) or its equivalent;
3. For teachers in the secondary grades, a bachelor’s degree in
education or its equivalent with a major and minor, or a bachelor
degree in arts and sciences with at least eighteen (18) units in
professional education; and
4. For teachers of vocational and two year technical courses, a
bachelor’s degree in the field of specialization or its equivalent,
with at least eighteen (18) units in professional education.”
• SEC 2. Section 26 of the same Act is
hereby amended to read as follows:
“SEC. 26. Registration and Exception. No person shall engage in teaching
and/or act as a professional teacher as defined in this Act, whether in the
preschool, elementary or secondary level, unless the person is a duly
registered professional teacher, and a holder of a valid certificate of
registration and a valid professional license or a holder of a valid
special/temporary permit.
Upon approval of the application and payment of the prescribed fees, the
certificate of registration and professional license as a professional teacher
shall be issued without examination as required in this Act to a qualified
applicant, who is:
a)A holder of a certificate of eligibility as a
teacher issued by the Civil Service
Commission and the Department of
Education, Culture and Sports; or
b)A registered professional teacher with the
National Board for Teachers under the
Department of Education, Culture and Sports
(DECS) pursuant to Presidential Decree no.
1006.
SEC 3. Section 31 of the same Act is
hereby amended to read as follows:
“SEC. 31. Transitory Provision. Special permits, with a
validity of three (3) and five (5) years, issued to para-
teachers by the Board of Professional Teachers before the
effectivity of this Act shall be allowed to expire based on
the period granted therein: Provided, that only special
permits with a validity of three (3) years may be renewed
upon expiration for a non-extendible period of two (2)
years.”
SEC 4. References to the term “Department
of Education, Culture and Sports,” in
section 4 (a) and section 25, and the term
“DECS” in section 20, of the same Act, are
hereby amended to read as “Department of
Education” and “DepEd,” respectively.
Due to the implementation of Republic Act 10533
(see Appendix D) otherwise known as the “Enhanced
Basic Education Act of 2013” the government
recognized the need to hire more professionals from
different fields to serve as teachers especially in
Grade 11 and Grade 12. Not withstanding the
provisions of Sections 26, 27, and 28 of RA 7836, the
Department of Education and all private schools may
hire:
• Graduates of science, mathematics, statistics, engineering, music
and other degree courses with shortages in qualified Licensure
Examination for Teachers (LET) applicants to teach in their
specialized subjects in the elementary and secondary education.
Qualified LET applicants shall also include graduates and admitted
by foundations duly recognized for their expertise in the education
sector and who satisfactorily complete the requirement set by these
organizations: Provided, That they pass the LET within five (5)
years after their date of hiring: Provided, further, That if such
graduates are willing to teach on part-time basis, the provisions of
LET shall no longer be required;
•Graduates of technical-vocational courses to
teach in their specialized subjects in the
secondary education. Provided, That these
graduates possess the necessary certification
issued by the TESDA: Provided, further, That
they undergo appropriate in-service training to be
administered by the DepEd or higher education
institutions (HEIs) at the expense of the DepEd;
• Faculty of HEIs be allowed to teach in their general education or
subject specialties in the secondary education: Provided, That the
faculty must be a holder of a relevant Bachelor’s degree, and must
have satisfactorily served as a full-time HEI faculty;
• The DepEd and private education institutions may hire
practitioners, with expertise in the specialized learning areas
offered, by the Basic Education Curriculum, to teach in the
secondary level; Provided, That they teach a part-time basis only.
For this purpose, the DepEd, in coordination with the appropriate
government agencies, shall determine the necessary qualification
standards in hiring these experts.