Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers

CODE OF ETHICS FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS
Pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (e), Article 11, of R.A. No. 7836, otherwise
nown as the Philippine !eachers Professionali"ation Act of 1##$ an% paragraph (a),
section 6, P.&. No. ''3, as a(en%e%, the )oar% for Professional !eachers here*+
a%opt the ,o%e of -thics for Professional !eachers.
Preamble
!eachers are %ul+ license% professionals who possesses %ignit+ an% reputation with
high (oral values as well as technical an% professional co(petence in the practice of
their no*le profession, an% the+ strictl+ a%here to, o*serve, an% practice this set of
ethical an% (oral principles, stan%ar%s, an% values.
Article I: Scope and Limitations
.ection 1. !he Philippine ,onstitution provi%es that all e%ucational institution shall offer
/ualit+ e%ucation for all co(petent teachers. ,o((itte% to its full reali"ation, the
provision of this ,o%e shall appl+, therefore, to all teachers in schools in the Philippines.
.ection '. !his ,o%e covers all pu*lic an% private school teachers in all e%ucational
institutions at the preschool, pri(ar+, ele(entar+, an% secon%ar+ levels whether
aca%e(ic, vocational, special, technical, or non0for(al. !he ter( 1teacher2 shall inclu%e
in%ustrial arts or vocational teachers an% all other persons perfor(ing supervisor+
an% 3or a%(inistrative functions in all school at the aforesai% levels, whether on full ti(e
or part0ti(e *asis.
Article II: The Teacher and the State
.ection 1. !he schools are the nurseries of the future citi"ens of the state4 each teacher
is a trustee of the cultural an% e%ucational heritage of the nation an% is un%er o*ligation
to trans(it to learners such heritage as well as to elevate national (oralit+, pro(ote
national pri%e, cultivate love of countr+, instill allegiance to the constitution an% for all
%ul+ constitute% authorities, an% pro(ote o*e%ience to the laws of the state.
.ection '. -ver+ teacher or school official shall activel+ help carr+ out the %eclare%
policies of the state, an% shall tae an oath to this effect.
.ection 3. 5n the interest of the .tate an% of the 6ilipino people as (uch as of his own,
ever+ teacher shall *e ph+sicall+, (entall+ an% (orall+ fit.
.ection $. -ver+ teacher shall possess an% actuali"e a full co((it(ent an% %evotion to
%ut+.
.ection 7. A teacher shall not engage in the pro(otion of an+ political, religious, or other
partisan interest, an% shall not, %irectl+ or in%irectl+, solicit, re/uire, collect, or receive
an+ (one+ or service or other valua*le (aterial fro( an+ person or entit+ for such
purposes.
.ection 6. -ver+ teacher shall vote an% shall e8ercise all other constitutional rights an%
responsi*ilit+.
.ection 7. A teacher shall not use his position or official authorit+ or influence to coerce
an+ other person to follow an+ political course of action.
.ection 8. -ver+ teacher shall en9o+ aca%e(ic free%o( an% shall have privilege of
e8poun%ing the pro%uct of his researches an% investigations4 provi%e% that, if the results
are ini(ical to the %eclare% policies of the .tate, the+ shall *e *rought to the proper
authorities for appropriate re(e%ial action.
Article III: The Teacher and the Commnit!
.ection 1. A teacher is a facilitator of learning an% of the %evelop(ent of the +outh4 he
shall, therefore, ren%er the *est service *+ provi%ing an environ(ent con%ucive to such
learning an% growth.
.ection '. -ver+ teacher shall provi%e lea%ership an% initiative to activel+ participate in
co((unit+ (ove(ents for (oral, social, e%ucational, econo(ic an% civic *etter(ent.
.ection 3. -ver+ teacher shall (erit reasona*le social recognition for which purpose he
shall *ehave with honor an% %ignit+ at all ti(es an% refrain fro( such activities as
ga(*ling, s(oing, %runenness, an% other e8cesses, (uch less illicit relations.
.ection $. -ver+ teacher shall live for an% with the co((unit+ an% shall, therefore,
stu%+ an% un%erstan% local custo(s an% tra%itions in or%er to have s+(pathetic attitu%e,
therefore, refrain fro( %isparaging the co((unit+.
.ection 7. -ver+ teacher shall help the school eep the people in the co((unit+
infor(e% a*out the school:s wor an% acco(plish(ents as well as its nee%s an%
pro*le(s.
.ection 6. -ver+ teacher is intellectual lea%er in the co((unit+, especiall+ in the
*aranga+, an% shall welco(e the opportunit+ to provi%e such lea%ership when nee%e%,
to e8ten% counseling services, as appropriate, an% to activel+ *e involve% in (atters
affecting the welfare of the people.
.ection 7. -ver+ teacher shall (aintain har(onious an% pleasant personal an% official
relations with other professionals, with govern(ent officials, an% with the people,
in%ivi%uall+ or collectivel+.
.ection 8. A teacher posses free%o( to atten% church an% worships as appropriate, *ut
shall not use his positions an% influence to prosel+te others.
Article I": A Teacher and the Pro#ession
.ection 1. -ver+ teacher shall activel+ insure that teaching is the no*lest profession,
an% shall (anifest genuine enthusias( an% pri%e in teaching as a no*le calling.
.ection '. -ver+ teacher shall uphol% the highest possi*le stan%ar%s of /ualit+
e%ucation, shall (ae the *est preparations for the career of teaching, an% shall *e at
his *est at all ti(es an% in the practice of his profession.
.ection 3. -ver+ teacher shall participate in the ,ontinuing Professional -%ucation
(,P-) progra( of the Professional Regulation ,o((ission, an% shall pursue such other
stu%ies as will i(prove his efficienc+, enhance the prestige of the profession, an%
strengthen his co(petence, virtues, an% pro%uctivit+ in or%er to *e nationall+ an%
internationall+ co(petitive.
.ection $. -ver+ teacher shall help, if %ul+ authori"e%, to see support fro( the school,
*ut shall not (ae i(proper (isrepresentations through personal a%vertise(ents an%
other /uestiona*le (eans.
.ection 7. -ver+ teacher shall use the teaching profession in a (anner that (aes it
%ignifie% (eans for earning a %escent living.
Article ": The Teachers and the Pro#ession
.ection 1. !eachers shall, at all ti(es, *e i(*ue% with the spirit of professional lo+alt+,
(utual confi%ence, an% faith in one another, self0sacrifice for the co((on goo%, an% full
cooperation with colleagues. ;hen the *est interest of the learners, the school, or the
profession is at stae in an+ controvers+, teachers shall support one another.
.ection '. A teacher is not entitle% to clai( cre%it or wor not of his own, an% shall give
%ue cre%it for the wor of others which he (a+ use.
.ection 3. )efore leaving his position, a teacher shall organi"e for whoever assu(es
the position such recor%s an% other %ata as are necessar+ to carr+ on the wor.
.ection $. A teacher shall hol% inviolate all confi%ential infor(ation concerning
associates an% the school, an% shall not %ivulge to an+one %ocu(ents which has not
*een officiall+ release%, or re(ove recor%s fro( files without per(ission.
.ection 7. 5t shall *e the responsi*ilit+ of ever+ teacher to see correctives for what (a+
appear to *e an unprofessional an% unethical con%uct of an+ associate. <owever, this
(a+ *e %one onl+ if there is incontroverti*le evi%ence for such con%uct.
.ection 6. A teacher (a+ su*(it to the proper authorities an+ 9ustifia*le criticis( against
an associate, prefera*l+ in writing, without violating the right of the in%ivi%ual concerne%.
.ection 7. A teacher (a+ appl+ for a vacant position for which he is /ualifie%4 provi%e%
that he respects the s+ste( of selection on the *asis of (erit an% co(petence4
provi%e%, further, that all /ualifie% can%i%ates are given the opportunit+ to *e
consi%ere%.
Article "I: The Teacher and Hi$her Athorities in the Pro#ession
.ection 1. -ver+ teacher shall (ae it his %ut+ to (ae an honest effort to un%erstan%
an% support the legiti(ate policies of the school an% the a%(inistration regar%less of
personal feeling or private opinion an% shall faithfull+ carr+ the( out.
.ection '. A teacher shall not (ae an+ false accusations or charges against superiors,
especiall+ un%er anon+(it+. <owever, if there are vali% charges, he shoul% present such
un%er oath to co(petent authorit+.
.ection 3. A teacher shall transact all official *usiness through channels e8cept when
special con%itions warrant a %ifferent proce%ure, such as when special con%itions are
a%vocate% *ut are oppose% *+ i((e%iate superiors, in which case, the teacher shall
appeal %irectl+ to the appropriate higher authorit+.
.ection $. -ver+ teacher, in%ivi%uall+ or as part of a group, has a right to see re%ress
against in9ustice to the a%(inistration an% to e8tent possi*le, shall raise grievances
within accepta*le %e(ocratic possesses. 5n %oing so, the+ shall avoi% 9eopar%i"ing the
interest an% the welfare of learners whose right to learn (ust *e respecte%.
.ection 7. -ver+ teacher has a right to invoe the principle that appoint(ents,
pro(otions, an% transfer of teachers are (a%e onl+ on the *asis of (erit an% nee%e% in
the interest of the service.
.ection 6. A teacher who accepts a position assu(es a contractual o*ligation to live up
to his contract, assu(ing full nowle%ge of e(plo+(ent ter(s an% con%itions.
Article "II: School O##icials% Teachers% and Other Personnel
.ection 1. All school officials shall at all ti(es show professional courtes+, helpfulness
an% s+(path+ towar%s teachers an% other personnel, such practices *eing stan%ar%s of
effective school supervision, %ignifie% a%(inistration, responsi*le lea%ership an%
enlightene% %irections.
.ection '. .chool officials, teachers, an% other school personnel shall consi%er it their
cooperative responsi*ilit+ to for(ulate policies or intro%uce i(portant changes in the
s+ste( at all levels.
.ection 3. .chool officials shall encourage an% atten% the professional growth of all
teachers un%er the( such as reco((en%ing the( for pro(otion, giving the( %ue
recognition for (eritorious perfor(ance, an% allowing the( to participate in conferences
in training progra(s.
.ection $. No school officials shall %is(iss or reco((en% for %is(issal a teacher or
other su*or%inates e8cept for cause.
.ection 7. .chool authorities concern shall ensure that pu*lic school teachers are
e(plo+e% in accor%ance with pertinent civil service rules, an% private school teachers
are issue% contracts specif+ing the ter(s an% con%itions of their wor4 provi%e% that
the+ are given, if /ualifie%, su*se/uent per(anent tenure, in accor%ance with e8isting
laws.
Article "III: The Teachers and Learners
.ection 1. A teacher has a right an% %ut+ to %eter(ine the aca%e(ic (ars an% the
pro(otions of learners in the su*9ect or gra%es he han%les, provi%e% that such
%eter(ination shall *e in accor%ance with generall+ accepte% proce%ures of evaluation
an% (easure(ent. 5n case of an+ co(plaint, teachers concerne% shall i((e%iatel+ tae
appropriate actions, o*serving %ue process.
.ection '. A teacher shall recogni"e that the interest an% welfare of learners are of first
an% fore(ost concern, an% shall %eal 9ustifia*l+ an% i(partiall+ with each of the(.
.ection 3. =n%er no circu(stance shall a teacher *e pre9u%ice% or %iscri(inate against
a learner.
.ection $. A teacher shall not accept favors or gifts fro( learners, their parents or
others in their *ehalf in e8change for re/ueste% concessions, especiall+ if un%eserve%.
.ection 7. A teacher shall not accept, %irectl+ or in%irectl+, an+ re(uneration fro(
tutorials other what is authori"e% for such service.
.ection 6. A teacher shall *ase the evaluation of the learner:s wor onl+ in (erit an%
/ualit+ of aca%e(ic perfor(ance.
.ection 7. 5n a situation where (utual attraction an% su*se/uent love %evelop *etween
teacher an% learner, the teacher shall e8ercise ut(ost professional %iscretion to avoi%
scan%al, gossip an% preferential treat(ent of the learner.
.ection 8. A teacher shall not inflict corporal punish(ent on offen%ing learners nor
(ae %e%uctions fro( their scholastic ratings as a punish(ent for acts which are clearl+
not (anifestation of poor scholarship.
.ection #. A teacher shall ensure that con%itions contri*ute to the (a8i(u(
%evelop(ent of learners are a%e/uate, an% shall e8ten% nee%e% assistance in
preventing or solving learner:s pro*le(s an% %ifficulties.
Article I&: The Teachers and Parents
.ection 1. -ver+ teacher shall esta*lish an% (aintain cor%ial relations with parents, an%
shall con%uct hi(self to (erit their confi%ence an% respect.
.ection '. -ver+ teacher shall infor( parents, through proper authorities, of the
progress an% %eficiencies of learner un%er hi(, e8ercising ut(ost can%or an% tact in
pointing out the learner>s %eficiencies an% in seeing parent:s cooperation for the proper
gui%ance an% i(prove(ent of the learners.
.ection 3. A teacher shall hear parent:s co(plaints with s+(path+ an% un%erstan%ing,
an% shall %iscourage unfair criticis(.
Article &: The Teacher and 'siness
.ection 1. A teacher has the right to engage, %irectl+ or in%irectl+, in legiti(ate inco(e
generation4 provi%e% that it %oes not relate to or a%versel+ affect his wor as a teacher.
.ection '. A teacher shall (aintain a goo% reputation with respect to the financial
(atters such as in the settle(ent of his %e*ts an% loans in arranging satisfactoril+ his
private financial affairs.
.ection 3. No teacher shall act, %irectl+ or in%irectl+, as agent of, or *e financiall+
intereste% in, an+ co((ercial venture which furnish te8t*oos an% other school
co((o%ities in the purchase an% %isposal of which he can e8ercise official influence,
e8cept onl+ when his assign(ent is inherentl+, relate% to such purchase an% %isposal4
provi%e% the+ shall *e in accor%ance with the e8isting regulations4 provi%e%, further, that
(e(*ers of %ul+ recogni"e% teachers cooperatives (a+ participate in the %istri*ution
an% sale of such co((o%ities.
Article &I: The Teacher as a Person
.ection 1. A teacher is, a*ove all, a hu(an *eing en%owe% with life for which it is the
highest o*ligation to live with %ignit+ at all ti(es whether in school, in the ho(e, or
elsewhere.
.ection '. A teacher shall place pre(iu( upon self0%iscipline as the pri(ar+ principle of
personal *ehavior in all relationships with others an% in all situations.
.ection 3. A teacher shall (aintain at all ti(es a %ignifie% personalit+ which coul% serve
as a (o%el worth+ of e(ulation *+ learners, peers an% all others.
.ection $. A teacher shall alwa+s recogni"e the Al(ight+ ?o% as gui%e of his own
%estin+ an% of the %estinies of (en an% nations.
Article &II: Disciplinar! Actions
.ection 1. An+ violation of an+ provision of this co%e shall *e sufficient groun% for the
i(position against the erring teacher of the %isciplinar+ action consisting of revocation of
his ,ertification of Registration an% @icense as a Professional !eacher, suspension
fro( the practice of teaching profession, or repri(an% or cancellation of his
te(porar+3special per(it un%er causes specifie% in .ec. '3, Article 555 or R.A. No. 7836,
an% un%er Rule 31, Article A555, of the Rules an% Regulations 5(ple(enting R.A. 7836.
Article &III: E##ecti(it!
.ection 1. !his ,o%e shall tae effect upon approval *+ the Professional Regulation
,o((ission an% after si8t+ (6B) %a+s following its pu*lication in the Cfficial ?a"ette or
an+ newspaper of general circulation, whichever is earlier.