Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers

- GROUP 3
Learning Objectives:

a. Demonstrate understanding of the key provisions of the code of ethics and

become familiar with the responsibilities of a professional teacher.

b. Describe how the code of ethics can help or guide a teacher in the day to day
performance/tasks of his work, hence resulting to a good teacher

c. Describe and become familiar with the responsibilities specified in the Code
of Ethics for Professional Teachers.

d. Exhibit professional behavior as set out by the Code of Ethics for Teachers
in the Philippines.
Glossary of Terms

Terms Definition

Code of a guide of principles designed to help professionals act with honesty and integrity. A written set of rules and
Ethics management to help them conduct their actions in accordance with its primary values and standards. (Oxford
English Dictionary)

Teacher a person who facilitate learners to gain knowledge, skills, and values that enhance development. A person
who has the knowledge, skills, attitude, and special trainings in teaching, explaining, and educating. (R.A.
9155)

Professional a person who characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession. A person
who exhibits courtesy, conscientiousness, and generally manners that are acceptable resulting improvement
of the organization he belongs.

Behavior the way in which one acts or conducts oneself, especially toward others and to the organization he or she is
serving.

School is an educational institution, private, and public, understating operation with a specific age group of pupils or
students pursuing defined studies at defined level, receiving instruction from teachers, usually located in a
building or a group of buildings in a particular physical site. (R.A. 9155)

Learner any individual seeking basic literacy skills and functional life skills or support services for the improvement of
the quality of his/her life (R.A. 9155)
 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 shall

be sufficient ground
for the revocation of
license”
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 .
Consequently teachers must adhere to the
exacting standards of morality and decency. A
teacher both in his official and personal conduct
must display exemplary behavior.”
He must freely and willingly accept
restrictions on his conduct that might be viewed i
the personal behavior of teachers, IN AND
OUTSIDE 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:

“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, 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?
“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 be accountable for
efficient and effective attainment of
specified learning objectives.”

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 perform his duties and
responsibilities, within a common performance
standards should not be allowed to stay in
school.
The MRPS provides as just cause of
terminating a faculty—
“Gross inefficiency and incompetence in the
performance of his duties.”
(Section 3 (a))
Hence, the SC held in Evelyn Peña vs. NLRC
that—

“Schools can set high

standards of efficiency
for its teachers since
quality education is a
mandate of the
Constitution security of
tenure 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
performance of each 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, the unjustified or
unreasonable delay in giving grades
constitutes gross neglect of duty.
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 .”
“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 .”
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
scholarship.”
Hence, Section 79 of the MRPS—
“Basis for Grading. – The grade or rating
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.”
Code of Ethics provides—
“A teacher shall not 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
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 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 inflict corporal punishment

upon the child.”

Definition: An act that inflict pain or harm

upon a child’s body as 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, having been
effected without just cause, on the
premise that the solicitation of funds
was initiated by the students and that
her participation was merely limited to
approving the same.”
 If there is one person more
knowledgeable of policy against
illegal exactions from students, it
would be 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.’”
 “(Department of Education) considers
the act of teachers in contracting loans
from parents of their students not only
serious misconduct but violation of
students’ right to be free from
involuntary contribution.”

- 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, the student is still within
the custody and subject to the
discipline and responsibility of the
teachers.
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
-END-