Code of ethics

• The Code covers public and private school teachers at all educational levels in various types of institutions
• Teachers shall not engage in promoting political, religious, or partisan interests or solicit money or services for such purposes
• Every teacher shall vote and exercise all other constitutional rights and responsibilities
• Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers adopted by the Board for Professional Teachers
• Teachers are duly licensed professionals with high moral values, technical and professional competence, and adhere to ethical and moral principles
• Teachers shall enjoy academic freedom and have the privilege of expounding their research results, subject to appropriate remedial action if inimical to state policies
• Teachers shall merit reasonable social recognition, behave with honor and dignity, and refrain from activities like gambling, smoking, drunkenness, and illicit relations
• Every teacher shall actively help carry out the declared policies of the state and take an oath to this effect
• Teachers shall study and understand local customs and traditions, refrain from disparaging the community, and help keep the community informed about the school's work and needs
• Every teacher shall be physically, mentally, and morally fit in the interest of the State and the Filipino people
• Teachers are facilitators of learning and youth development


  They shall provide an environment conducive to learning and growth
• The Code of Ethics applies to all teachers in schools in the Philippines
• Teachers are trustees of the cultural and educational heritage of the nation

  They are under obligation to transmit heritage, elevate national morality, promote national pride, cultivate love of country, instil allegiance to the constitution, and promote obedience to the laws of the state
• Every teacher shall possess and actualize a full commitment and devotion to duty
• Teachers shall not use their position or influence to coerce others to follow any political course of action
• The Philippine Constitution mandates quality education for all competent teachers
• Teachers shall provide leadership and initiative in community movements for moral, social, educational, economic, and civic betterment
• Teachers and the Profession

  1. Be imbued with the spirit of professional loyalty, mutual confidence, and faith in one another, self-sacrifice for the common good, full cooperation with colleagues

  2. Not claim credit or work not of his own, give due credit for the work of others used

  3. Organize necessary records and data for whoever assumes the position before leaving

  4. Hold inviolate all confidential information concerning associates and the school, not divulge unofficially released documents or remove records without permission

  5. Seek correctives for unprofessional and unethical conduct of any associate with incontrovertible evidence, submit justifiable criticism against an associate preferably in writing without violating the individual's rights

  6. Apply for a vacant position for which qualified, respecting the system of selection based on merit and competence, ensuring all qualified candidates are considered
• Teacher and the Profession

  1. Actively ensure that teaching is the noblest profession, manifest genuine enthusiasm and pride in teaching as a noble calling

  2. Uphold the highest possible standards of quality education, make the best preparations for the career of teaching, be at the best at all times and in the practice of the profession

  3. Participate in Continuing Professional Education (CPE) program, pursue studies to improve efficiency, enhance the prestige of the profession, strengthen competence, virtues, and productivity to be nationally and internationally competitive

  4. Help seek support from the school if duly authorized, not make improper misrepresentations through personal advertisements and other questionable means

  5. Use the teaching profession in a manner that makes it a dignified means for earning a decent living
• Teacher responsibilities

  1. Live for and with the community, study and understand local customs and traditions, refrain from disparaging the community

  2. Help keep the people in the community informed about the school’s work and accomplishments, as well as its needs and problems

  3. Be an intellectual leader in the community, provide leadership when needed, extend counselling services, be actively involved in matters affecting the welfare of the people

  4. Maintain harmonious and pleasant personal and official relations with other professionals, government officials, and the people

  5. Possess freedom to attend church and worship as appropriate, but not use position and influence to proselyte others
• Teacher and Higher Authorities in the Profession

  1. Make an honest effort to understand and support the legitimate policies of the school and administration regardless of personal feeling or private opinion, faithfully carry them out

  2. Not make any false statements
• Every teacher


  Shall make an honest effort to understand and support the legitimate policies of the school and the administration regardless of personal feeling or private opinion and shall faithfully carry them out
• A teacher

  Shall base the evaluation of the learner’s work only on merit and quality of academic performance
• Every teacher


  Individually or as part of a group, has a right to seek redress against injustice to the administration and to extent possible, shall raise grievances within acceptable democratic processes. In doing so, they shall avoid jeopardizing the interest and the welfare of learners whose right to learn must be respected
• 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
• No school officials

  Shall dismiss or recommend for dismissal a teacher or other subordinates except for cause
• All school officials


  Shall at all times show professional courtesy, helpfulness and sympathy towards teachers and other personnel, such practices being standards of effective school supervision, dignified administration, responsible leadership and enlightened directions
• School officials, teachers, and other school personnel

  Shall consider it their cooperative responsibility to formulate policies or introduce important changes in the system at all levels
• Every teacher


  Has a right to invoke the principle that appointments, promotions, and transfer of teachers are made only on the basis of merit and needed in the interest of the service
• School authorities

  Shall ensure 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; provided that they are given, if qualified, subsequent permanent tenure, in accordance with existing laws
• A teacher

  Shall not make any false accusations or charges against superiors, especially under anonymity. However, if there are valid charges, he should present such under oath to competent authority
• A teacher

  Shall not accept favours or gifts from learners, their parents or others on their behalf in exchange for requested concessions, especially if undeserved
• In a situation where mutual attraction and subsequent love develop between teacher and learner


  The teacher shall exercise utmost professional discretion to avoid scandal, gossip and preferential treatment of the learner
• A teacher who accepts a position


  Assumes a contractual obligation to live up to his contract, assuming full knowledge of employment terms and conditions
• A teacher

  Shall transact all official business through channels except when special conditions warrant a different procedure, such as when special conditions are advocated but are opposed by immediate superiors, in which case, the teacher shall appeal directly to the appropriate higher authority
• A teacher

  Shall not accept, directly or indirectly, any remuneration from tutorials other than what is authorized for such service
• School officials

  Shall encourage and attend the professional growth of all teachers under them such as recommending them for promotion, giving them due recognition for meritorious performance, and allowing them to participate in conferences in training programs
• A teacher

  Has a right and duty to determine the academic marks and the promotions of learners in the subject or grades he handles, provided that such determination shall be in accordance with generally accepted procedures of evaluation and measurement. In case of any complaint, teachers concerned shall immediately take appropriate actions, observing due process
• Every teacher shall establish and maintain cordial relations with parents, conduct themselves to merit parents' confidence and respect
• Teachers should exercise utmost professional discretion to avoid scandal, gossip, and preferential treatment in situations where mutual attraction and subsequent love develop between teacher and learner