Vice President Sara Duterte
Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte told Department of Education (DepEd) employees not to “disparage” the agency online in a new policy intended to “depoliticize” and “promote professionalism” in the DepEd.
Under DepEd Order (DO) No. 49 released on Wednesday, Duterte reminded the employees to “always be mindful of the reputation and honor of the organization.”
DepEd employees should raise issues and concerns on basic education through “formal and appropriate channels… without resorting to any political or third-party intervention or accommodation,” according to the education chief.
Otherwise, failure to comply with the directive “shall mean outright denial of any request or appeal for consideration in the Office of the Secretary,” she warned.
But the progressive teachers’ group Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) criticized the new order, saying it would be “unprofessional” of Duterte to refuse to address basic education issues just because they were made public or raised before a third party.
“In the guise of promoting professionalism, parts of the memo actually threaten the freedom of expression and right to redress grievances of DepEd personnel,” Vladimer Quetua, ACT chair, said in a statement on Thursday.
Aside from prohibiting DepEd officials and employees from maligning the agency, Duterte cautioned them not to take part in spreading rumors and false information on social media.
Use proper channels
They were also told not to attack fellow DepEd employees online and use legal and “human resource mediation procedures” instead.
DO 49 is an amendment to DO 47 released on Oct. 17.
“It is the policy of the Department of Education to promote effective and efficient policies and programs. To realize this, the DepEd should be free from any partisan activities,” Duterte said.
In particular, DepEd employees and officials were told to abstain from getting endorsements, recommendations, contributions, support, consideration, political accommodations or other interventions from entities or government personnel outside of the agency.
They were also further instructed to “desist from soliciting favorable actions from politicians to facilitate the implementation of programs, projects, or activities.”
The exceptions are those covered by the Adopt-A-School program, initiatives led by the local government units and other endeavors funded by the Special Education Fund or partnership agreements permitted by law.
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