THE TEACHERS’ Dignity Coalition urged the Department of Education to clarify its new order that seeks to enhance professionalism among teachers and other DepEd employees.

In a statement, TDC said it lauded DepEd’s effort at enhancing professionalism in the department, the latest manifestation of which being the DepEd Order 49 s. 2022 promulgated on November 2, 2022. However, it said that the new order raises some serious concerns.

“To start, the Philippine Constitution guarantees unhampered communication and cooperation between individuals and organizations within the bounds of the law. Paragraph 1 of the said order is a direct prohibition to employees from seeking the aid of other government entities and ‘similar entities outside of DepEd’ and is directing employees to raise issues and concerns regarding basic education via formal and appropriate DepEd channels, either directly to the Office of the Secretary or through the concerned Assistant Secretary or Undersecretary, without resorting to any political or third-party intervention or accommodation,” TDC said.

“Teachers are primarily citizens of the republic and are endowed with the same civil rights as all other citizens. The right to organize, put forward views, act collectively and to lobby for their interests is guaranteed in the constitution. This pillar of democracy is held sacred in the entire free world. DepEd is expected not only to educate learners on the value of this basic civil right but to champion it without fear and be the model for institutional checks,” the group added.

TDC said that teachers, as any other employees, public or private, employ various ways and means to redress their grievances and find assistance from different organizations. This is especially the case when their own agency fails to respond as it should.

“Civil societies everywhere provide citizens maximum access to institutional options to ensure that issues are brought to national awareness and addressed democratically. We posit that this provision could violate teachers’ right to self-organization and must therefore be clarified and modified if found inconsistent with the very intent of the order, sound management practice, and the constitution,” the group said.

Another provision states that employees “shall not unduly post online attacks against fellow DepEd employees and must utilize legal and human resource mediation procedures” and “shall not disparage DepEd and must always be mindful of the reputation and honor of the organization.”

“While we agree that fake information or rumors have no place in the profession, education, no less, this provision’s vagueness lays it open to abuse and could easily be weaponized against the teachers,” the TDC said.

It added that the order directing teachers not to interact or be friends with their students is regressive.

“The whole child approach to teaching and learning has been gaining steam for years now and social media platforms are at the forefront of this advancement. This is even more necessary in public schools where we cater to learners that go through much more complications during their developmental years, given their financial situation as well as the less-than-ideal environment where their personhoods are being shaped,” the TDC said.

“This is where internet technology becomes an essential tool. Facebook and Messenger, in particular are used for class discussions, monitoring of projects, individual tutoring, individual guidance and counseling, and in extending teacher involvement in the learners’ personal emergencies such as medical emergencies, peer abuse or family problems, and even the provision of financial and other material support. The teachers’ social responsibility goes way beyond the confines of the classroom and most teachers give much more of themselves out of compassion, beyond the call of duty,” the group added.