The teacher behind the test questions for Grade 2 pupils that put the police in a negative light could be charged if the school files a case, Philippine National Police Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said on Thursday.
Albayalde’s warning came after a Facebook post which shows the test questions for Grade 2 pupils went viral.
In the exam, the pupils were instructed to underline adjectives in sentences. There were sentences, however, that were considered “disturbing” such as: “Masama ang extrajudicial killings (Extra-judicial killings are not good),” “Matataba at malalaki ang tiyan ng mga pulis (Police officers are fat and have big tummies.),” and “Pulang-pula ang dugo na nagkalat sa sahig (The blood spilled on the ground is red).”
The netizen who posted the photos, Verna Escolano, did not disclose the name of the teacher and the school.
“Pwede lang magfile ng kaso (a case can be filed), but the school can outright terminate that faculty member,” Albayalde said in a press briefing, although he noted that it should be the school who should file the case, not the police.
The PNP said filing charges against the the teacher would give educators a lesson.
READ: Professors promoting ‘rebellious’ ideas may face contempt — Albayalde
He lamented how the teacher seemed to be corrupting the minds of students through the test questions.
“Wag sana po nating lasunin iyong pag-iisip ng ating mga kabataan (Let’s not poison the minds of our youth),” he said, noting that teachers act as the parents of students in school.
“Napaka-importante ng edukasyon. Eh kung iyan ang ituturo natin sa ating mga kabataan, anong mangyayari sa Pilipinas, 5 or 10 years from now, pagkagraduate nila?” Albayalde said.
(Education is really important. If we teach that to our youth, what will happen to the Philippines five or ten years from now, or after they graduate?)
Escolano, however, clarified that her goal in posting the photos of the test questions is not to humiliate anyone but to encourage parents to look into the test papers and other teaching materials being used in schools. She said parents who find disturbing content should report it to the concerned school or to the Department of Education if needed. /ee