“PROFESSIONALISM AND ETHICAL

STANDARDS IN TEACHING:
PREPARING PRE-S E RV I C E T E AC H E R S IN
THE R EA L WORLD O F WORK”

ISAGANI S . DELA CRUZ, C E S O IV

Schools Division Superintendent
 The Code of Ethics for
Professional Teachers in Their
Dual Role as Educator and
Parent
 Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers
adopted and promulgated by the
Board for Professional Teachers
through Board Resolution No. 435, series of 1997,
pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (e), Article II
of RA No. 7836, otherwise known as the
“Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994”
 VIOLATION OF CODE OF ETHICS
FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS

Article XII, Section 1--

“Any violation x x x shall be

sufficient ground for the x x x
revocation of x x x license x x x”
 TEACHERS AS PROFESSIONALS

Duly licensed professionals who possess

dignity and reputation with high moral
values as well as technical and professional
competence. In the practice of their noble
profession, they strictly adhere to observe, and
practice this set of ethical and moral principles,
standard and values. (Preamble, Code of Ethics for
Professional Teachers)
 “Every teacher shall merit reasonable social recognition for
which purpose he shall behave with honor and dignity at
all times and refrain from such activities as gambling,
smoking, drunkenness and other excesses, much less illicit
relations.”
(Code of Ethics, Article III, Section 3)

“A teacher shall place premium upon self-respect and self-

discipline as the principle of personal behavior in all
relationships with others and in all situations.”
(Code of Ethics, Article XI,
Section 2)
 “A teacher shall maintain at all times a dignified
personality which could serve as model worthy of
emulation by learners, peers, and others.”
(Code of Ethics, Article XI, Section 3)
Joseph 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
He andmustpersonal
freelyconduct must
anddisplay exemplary
accept behavior.”
restrictions on his
conduct that might willingly irksome xxx the personal
behavior of teachers, IN be AND
viewedOUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM,
must be beyond reproach xxx they must observe a high
standard of integrity and honesty.”
TO ACT WITH HONOR:
To strictly honor contractual obligation with the
School
Art. VI, Sec. 6, Code of Ethics:

“A teacher who accepts a position assumes a

contractual obligation to live up to his
contract, assuming full knowledge of the
employment terms and conditions.”
 DUTY OF TEACHERS
(Based on Law)
As an EDUCATOR

1987 Constitution states:

“x x x 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.”
(Article XIV, Section 1)
As a PARENT

Article 218 of the Family Code provides—

“The school, its administrators and teachers, x x x
engaged in child care shall have special parental
authority and responsibility over the minor child while
under their supervision, instruction or custody.”

Article 219 of the Family Code provides—

“Those given the authority and responsibility under
(Article 218) shall principally and solidarily liable for
damages caused by acts or omissions of the
unemancipated minor.”
 Principal Duty or Obligation is To Ensure
“Quality Education”
What is QUALITY EDUCATION?

“x x x 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
In short—
“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.”
To ensure Quality Education:

1) Must be COMPETENT and EFFICIENT

Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers, Article 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.”
BP 232 (Education Act of 1982), Section 16 (2) provides—

“The teacher shall xxx be accountable for efficient and

effective attainment of specified learning objectives xxx.”

Code of Ethics further mandates that—

“Every teacher shall participate in the continuing
professional education (CPE) program of the PRC, and shall
pursue such other studies as will improve his efficiency,
enhance the prestige of the profession, and strengthen his
competence, virtue and productivity in order to be nationally
and internationally competitive.”
(Article IV, Section 3)
 “A teacher shall ensure that
conditions contributive to the
maximum development of learners are
adequate and shall extend assistance
in preventing or solving learners’
problems and difficulties.”

(Article IV, Section 3)

In short—
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 shows his inability to efficiently
performhis duties and responsibilities, within a common
performance standards should not be allowed to stay in school xxx.

The MRPS provides as just cause of terminating a faculty—

“Gross inefficiency and incompetence in the performance of his

duties xxx.”
(Section 3 (a))
Hence, the SC held in Evelyn Peña vs. NLRC that—

“x x x schools can set

high standards of efficiency
for its teachers since quality
education is a mandate of the
Constitution xxx security of
tenure xxx cannot be used to
shield
incompetence.”
2) Must EVALUATE LEARNERS
(i) Duty to give grades/evaluation
Section 16(3) of BP 232, TEACHER SHALL—

“Render regular reports on of each

performance
student and to the latter and to the latter’s parents and
guardians with specific suggestions for improvement.”

and...
Must promptly render or give grades. Otherwise,
unjustified or unreasonable delay in the giving
constitutes gross neglect of duty. grades
In the case of University of the East vs. Romeo A. Jader, the
SC declared—
“It is the contractual obligation of the school (through the
teachers) to TIMELY INFORM AND FURNISH
sufficient notice and information to each and every
student as to whether he/she had already complied with all
the requirements xxx.”
“The negligent act of a teacher who fails to observe the
rules of the school, for instance, by not promptly
submitting a student’s grade is not only imputable to the
teacher but is an act of the school being his/her
employer xxx.”
In evaluating/giving grades the following rules of conduct
must be observed—
Code of Ethics provides—

“A teacher has the duty to determine the academic

marks and the promotion of learners in the subject they
handle. Such determination shall be in accordance with
generally accepted procedure of evaluation and
measurement on case of any complaint, teachers
concerned shall immediately take appropriate action,
observing the process.”
(Article VIII, Section 1)
 “Under no circumstances shall a teacher be prejudiced
nor
discriminatory against any learner.”
(Article VIII, Section 3)

“A teacher shall not accept favors or gifts from learners, their

parents or others in their behalf in exchange for requested
concessions, especially if undeserved.”

(Article VIII, Section 4)

“A teacher shall base the evaluation of the learner’s work on merit

and quality of academic performance.”

(Article VIII, Section 6)

(i) 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.”
Hence, Section 79 of the MRPS—
“Basis for Grading. – The xxx grade or rating xxx in a student
should be based SOLELY on his scholastic performance. Any addition or
diminution to the grade in a subject for co-curricular activities,
attendance, or misconduct shall NOT be allowed xxx.”
Code of Ethics provides—

“A teacher shall not xxx make deductions from their

scholastic ratings as a punishment for acts which are
clearly not manifestations of poor scholarship.”
(Article VIII, Section 8)

Thus, it is not a matter of discretion on the part of the

teachers in the giving of the students’ grades, but rather it is a
clear obligation for the teachers to determine student academic
marks solely based on scholastic performance. For a teacher
to do otherwise, would be serious academic
malpractice or grave misconduct in the performance of
his/her duties.
In Padilla vs. NLRC, SBC the Supreme Court said—

“This Court is convinced that the pressure

and influence exerted by (a teacher) on his
colleague to change a failing grade to
passing one xxx constitute serious
misconduct which is a valid ground for
dismissing an employee.”
B. As a PARENT: Principal Duty to Exercise Parental Authority and
Responsibility

Article 218, Family Code provides—

“The school, its administrators and teachers xxx

engaged in child care shall have special parental
authority and responsibility over the minor child
while under their supervision, instruction or
custody.”
Code of Ethics states—

“A teacher shall recognize that the interest and

welfare of learners are his first and
foremost concern, and shall handle each
learner justly and impartially.” (Article VII, Section 2)
Parental Authority to Discipline

“As parents, the teachers shall use discipline not to

punish but to correct, not to force, but to motivate; and
not to obey with rigid cadence, but to choose to follow
the right way.
Hence, teachers cannot generally use methods of
punishing or such degree of penalties that a good
mother or a good father would not likely use on
her/his own children.”
Corporal Punishment - Article 233 (2nd par.)

“In no case x x x inflict corporal punishment upon the

child.”
Definition: An act that inflict pain or
harm
child’s body
upon as a punishment for wrong doing
usually through beating and spanking
Elements:
(a) physical contact
(b) to inflict pain
 VIII,8. A teacher shall not
inflict corporal punishment
on offending learners nor
make deductions from their
scholastic ratings as a
punishment for acts which are
clearly not manifestations of
poor scholarship.
Sale of Tickets; Collection of Contribution/ Donations from Pupils
/ Parents

BP 232, Sec. 9 (9) - students have right to be free from (voluntary)

involuntary contributions

 Improper or unauthorized solicitation of contributions from

subordinate employees and by teachers or school officials
from school children

 VIII, 5. A teacher shall not accept, directly or indirectly,

any remuneration from tutorials other than what is
authorized for such service.
 Anita Y. Salvarria vs. Letran College, et al.
(296 SCRA 184)
The Supreme Court declared--
“Petitioner contended that her dismissal was
arbitrarily xxx, having been effected without just
cause, on the premise that the solicitation of funds xxx
was initiated by the students and that her
participation was merely limited to approving the
same. xxx”
 If there is one person more knowledgeable of
xxx policy against illegal exactions from
students, it would be xxx Salavarria.

Hence, regardless of who initiated the

collections, the fact that the same was
approved or indorsed by petitioner, made her ‘in
effect the author of the project.”
 “xxx (Department of Education) considers
the act of teachers in xxx contracting loans
from parents of their students xxx not only
serious misconduct but xxx violation of
students’ right to be free from involuntary
contribution xxx.”
- USEC Nachura, 13 Feb.
‘98
Parental Responsibility

The student / pupil while in school, is in the

custody and hence, the responsibility of the
school authorities as long as he is under the
control and influence of the school, whether the
semester has not yet begun or has already
ended.
In Amadora vs. CA, the Supreme Court said--

Even if the student is just relaxing in

the campus in the company of his
classmates, x x x the student is still
within the custody and subject to the
discipline and responsibility of the
teachers x x x.
Hence--
A teacher required to exercise special
parental authority but who fails to observe all the
diligence of a good father of a family in the
custody and care of the pupils and students,
shall be held liable for gross neglect of
duty.
 “The Court takes this opportunity to pay a sincere
tribute to the school teachers, who are always at the
forefront in the battle against illiteracy and ignorance. If
only because it is they who open the minds of their pupils
to an unexplored world awash will the magic of letters
and numbers, which is an extraordinary feat indeed,
these humble mentors deserve all our respect and
appreciation.”
Justice Isagani A. Cruz
Chiang Kai Shek School vs. CA
G.R. No. 58028, April
18, 1989
DAGHANG
SALAMAT