CODE OF ETHICS FOR TEACHER

• Teachers are 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, and they strictly adhere to, observe, and practice this set of ethical and moral principles, standards, and values.
• This Code shall take effect upon approval by the Professional Regulation Commission and after sixty (60) days following its publication in the Official Gazette or any newspaper of general circulation, whichever is earlier.
• The Philippine Constitution provides that all educational institutions shall offer quality education for all competent teachers.
• The provision of this Code applies to all teachers in schools in the Philippines.
• This Code covers all public and private school teachers in all educational institutions at the preschool, primary, elementary, and secondary levels whether academic, vocational, special, technical, or non-formal.
• The term “teacher” includes industrial arts or vocational teachers and all other persons performing supervisory and/or administrative functions in all schools at the aforesaid levels, whether on full time or part-time basis.
• The schools are the nurseries of the future citizens of the state; each teacher is a trustee of the cultural and educational heritage of the nation and is under obligation to transmit to learners such heritage as well as to elevate national morality, promote national pride, cultivate love of country, instil allegiance to the constitution and for all duly constituted authorities, and promote obedience to the laws of the state.
• Every teacher or school official shall actively help carry out the declared policies of the state, and shall take an oath to this effect.
• In the interest of the State and of the Filipino people as much as of his own, every teacher shall be physically, mentally and morally fit.
• Every teacher shall possess and actualize a full commitment and devotion to duty.
• A teacher shall not engage in the promotion of any political, religious, or other partisan interest, and shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit, require, collect, or receive any money or service or other valuable material from any person or entity for such purposes.
• Every teacher shall vote and shall exercise all other constitutional rights and responsibility.
• A teacher shall not use his position or official authority or influence to coerce any other person to follow any political course of action.
• Every teacher shall enjoy academic freedom and shall have privilege of expounding the product of his researches and investigations; provided that, if the results are inimical to the declared policies of the State, they shall be brought to the proper authorities for appropriate remedial action.
• A teacher is a facilitator of learning and of the development of the youth; he shall, therefore, render the best service by providing an environment conducive to such learning and growth.
• Every teacher shall provide leadership and initiative to actively participate in community movements for moral, social, educational, economic and civic betterment.
• Every teacher shall merit reasonable social recognition for which purpose he shall behave with honour and dignity at all times and refrain from such activities as gambling, smoking, drunkenness, and other excesses, much less illicit relations.
• Every teacher shall live for and with the community and shall, therefore, study and understand local customs and traditions in order to have sympathetic attitude, therefore, refrain from disparaging the community.
• Every teacher shall help the school keep the people in the community informed about the school’s work and accomplishments as well as its needs and problems.
• Every teacher is intellectual leader in the community, especially in the barangay, and shall welcome the opportunity to provide such leadership when needed, to extend counselling services, as appropriate, and to actively be involved in matters affecting the welfare of the people.
• Every teacher shall maintain harmonious and pleasant personal and official relations with other professionals, with government officials, and with the people, individually or collectively.
• A teacher possesses freedom to attend church and worships as appropriate, but shall not use his positions and influence to proselyte others.
• Teachers have the right and duty to determine the academic marks and the promotions of learners in the subject or grades they handle, provided that such determination is in accordance with generally accepted procedures of evaluation and measurement.
• School authorities are responsible for ensuring that public school teachers are employed in accordance with pertinent civil service rules, and private school teachers are issued contracts specifying the terms and conditions of their work.
• In case of any complaint, teachers concerned shall immediately take appropriate actions, observing due process.
• A teacher shall always recognize the Almighty God as guide of his own destiny and of the destinies of men and nations.
• A teacher shall ensure that conditions contribute to the maximum development of learners are adequate, and shall extend needed assistance in preventing or solving learner’s problems and difficulties.
• A teacher shall not accept, directly or indirectly, any remuneration from tutorials other than what is authorized for such service.
• A teacher shall place premium upon self-discipline as the primary principle of personal behaviour in all relationships with others and in all situations.
• A teacher shall recognize that the interest and welfare of learners are of first and foremost concern, and shall deal justifiably and impartially with each of them.
• A teacher is, above all, a human being endowed with life for which it is the highest obligation to live with dignity at all times whether in school, in the home, or elsewhere.
• No teacher shall act, directly or indirectly, as agent of, or be financially interested in, any commercial venture which furnish textbooks and other school commodities in the purchase and disposal of which he can exercise official influence, except only when his assignment is inherently, related to such purchase and disposal; provided they shall be in accordance with the existing regulations; provided, further, that members of duly recognized teachers cooperatives may participate in the distribution and sale of such commodities.
• A teacher shall base the evaluation of the learner’s work only in merit and quality of academic performance.
• A teacher has the right to engage, directly or indirectly, in legitimate income generation; provided that it does not relate to or adversely affect his work as a teacher.
• Every teacher shall establish and maintain cordial relations with parents, and shall conduct himself to merit their confidence and respect.
• A teacher shall maintain at all times a dignified personality which could serve as a model worthy of emulation by learners, peers and all others.
• Every teacher shall inform parents, through proper authorities, of the progress and deficiencies of learner under him, exercising utmost candour and tact in pointing out the learner's deficiencies and in seeking parent’s cooperation for the proper guidance and improvement of the learners.
• Under no circumstance shall a teacher be prejudiced or discriminate against a learner.
• Any violation of any provision of this code shall be sufficient ground for the imposition against the erring teacher of the disciplinary action consisting of revocation of his Certification of Registration and License as a Professional Teacher, suspension from the practice
• A teacher shall hear parent’s complaints with sympathy and understanding, and shall discourage unfair criticism.