R.A. 4670

• REPUBLIC ACT NO. 4670 June 18, 1966
• Magna Carta for Public School Teachers


  Act to promote and improve the social and economic status of public school teachers, their living and working conditions, their terms of employment and career prospects
• Teacher


  All persons engaged in classroom teaching, in any level of instruction, on full-time basis, including guidance counselors, school librarians, industrial arts or vocational instructors, and all other persons performing supervisory and/or administrative functions in all schools, colleges and universities operated by the Government or its political subdivisions
• Minimum educational qualifications for teacher-applicants

  • Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education (B.S.E.ED.) for kindergarten and elementary grades
  • Bachelor's degree in Education or its equivalent with a major and a minor, or a Bachelor's degree in Arts or Science with at least eighteen professional units in Education for secondary schools
  • Bachelor's degree in the field of specialization with at least eighteen professional units in education for secondary vocational and two years technical courses
  • Master's degree with a specific area of specialization for teachers of courses on the collegiate level, other than vocational
• In the absence of applicants who possess the minimum educational qualifications, the school superintendent may appoint, under a temporary status, applicants who do not meet the minimum qualifications
• If teacher-applicants, whether they possess the minimum educational qualifications or not, are required to take competitive examinations, preference in making appointments shall be in the order of their respective ranks in said competitive examinations
• The results of the examinations shall be made public and every applicant shall be furnished with his score and rank in said examinations
• Probationary period


  No probationary period preceding regular appointment if the teacher possesses the appropriate civil service eligibility. Where it is necessary to employ a person who possesses the minimum educational qualifications but lacks the appropriate civil service eligibility, such person shall be appointed on a provisional status and shall undergo a period of probation for not less than one year
• Tenure of office


  Stability on employment and security of tenure shall be assured the teachers as provided under existing laws. Teachers appointed on a provisional status shall be extended permanent appointment after having rendered at least ten years of continuous, efficient and faithful service
• Transfer of teachers


  1. Except for cause, no teacher shall be transferred without his consent from one station to another

  2. Where the exigencies of the service require the transfer, the school superintendent shall previously notify the teacher concerned and the reason or reasons therefor

  3. If the teacher believes there is no justification for the transfer, he may appeal his case to the Director of Public Schools or the Director of Vocational Education

  4. Pending his appeal and the decision thereon, his transfer shall be held in abeyance

  5. No transfers shall be made three months before any local or national election

  6. Necessary transfer expenses of the teacher and his family shall be paid for by the Government if his transfer is finally approved
• Code of Professional Conduct for Teachers

  1. The Secretary of Education shall formulate and prepare a Code of Professional Conduct for Public School Teachers

  2. A copy of the Code shall be furnished each teacher or at least three copies shall be deposited with the office of the school principal or head teacher
• Safeguards in disciplinary procedure

  • Every teacher shall have the right to be informed, in writing, of the charges
  • The right to full access to the evidence in the case
  • The right to defend himself and to be defended by a representative of his choice and/or by his organization, adequate time being given to the teacher for the preparation of his defense
  • The right to appeal to clearly designated authorities
  • No publicity shall be given to any disciplinary action being taken against a teacher during the pendency of his case
• Administrative charges against a teacher

  1. Shall be heard initially by a committee composed of the corresponding School Superintendent of the Division or a duly authorized representative, a representative of the local or, in its absence, any existing provincial or national teacher's organization, and a supervisor of the Division

  2. The committee shall submit its findings and recommendations to the Director of Public Schools within thirty days from the termination of the hearings

  3. Where the school superintendent is the complainant or an interested party, all the members of the committee shall be appointed by the Secretary of Education
• There shall be no discrimination whatsoever in entrance to the teaching profession, or during its exercise, or in the termination of services, based on other than professional consideration
• Whenever possible, the proper authorities shall take all steps to enable married couples, both of whom are public school teachers, to be employed in the same locality
• Academic freedom


  Teachers shall enjoy academic freedom in the discharge of their professional duties, particularly with regard to teaching and classroom methods
• Teaching hours


  1. Any teacher engaged in actual classroom instruction shall not be required to render more than six hours of actual classroom teaching a day

  2. Where the exigencies of the service so require, any teacher may be required to render more than six hours but not exceeding eight hours of actual classroom teaching a day upon payment of additional compensation at the same rate as his regular remuneration plus at least twenty-five per cent of his basic pay
• Additional compensation


  1. Co-curricula and out of school activities and any other activities outside of what is defined as normal duties of any teacher shall be paid an additional compensation of at least twenty-five per cent of his regular remuneration after the teacher has completed at least six hours of actual classroom teaching a day

  2. For other teachers or school officials not engaged in actual classroom instruction, any work performed in excess of eight hours a day shall be paid an additional compensation of at least twenty-five per cent of their regular remuneration

  3. The agencies utilizing the services of teachers shall pay the additional compensation required
• Criteria for salaries


  • They shall compare favorably with those paid in other occupations requiring equivalent or similar qualifications, training and abilities
  • They shall be such as to insure teachers a reasonable standard of life for themselves and their families
  • They shall be properly graded so as to recognize the fact that certain positions require higher qualifications and greater responsibility than others
• Salary scale


  • Shall provide for a gradual progression from a minimum to a maximum salary by means of regular increments, granted automatically after three years, provided the efficiency rating of the teacher concerned is at least satisfactory
  • The progression from the minimum to the maximum of the salary scale shall not extend over a period of ten years
• The salary scales of teachers whose salaries are appropriated by a city, municipal, municipal district, or provincial government, shall not be less than those provided for teachers of the National Government
• Cost of living allowance

  Teacher's salaries shall, at the very least, keep pace with the rise in the cost of living by the payment of a cost-of-living allowance which shall automatically follow changes in a cost-of-living index
• Special hardship allowances


  In areas in which teachers are exposed to hardship such as difficulty in commuting to the place of work or other hazards peculiar to the place of employment, they shall be compensated special hardship allowances equivalent to at least twenty-five per cent of their monthly salary
• Salaries of teachers shall be paid in legal tender of the Philippines or its equivalent in checks or treasury warrants cashable in any national, provincial, city or municipal treasurer's office or any banking institutions operating under the laws of the Republic of the Philippines
• No person shall make any deduction whatsoever from the salaries of teachers except under specific authority of law authorizing such deductions, except for lawful dues and fees owing to the Philippine Public School Teachers Association and premiums properly due on insurance policies upon written authority of the teacher concerned
• Medical examination and treatment

  1. Compulsory medical examination shall be provided free of charge for all teachers before they take up teaching, and shall be repeated not less than once a year

  2. Where medical examination show that medical treatment and/or hospitalization is necessary, same shall be provided free by the government entity paying the salary of the teachers

  3. In regions where there is scarcity of medical facilities, teachers may obtain elsewhere the necessary medical care with the right to be reimbursed for their traveling expenses by the government entity concerned
• Compensation for injuries


  • Teachers shall be protected against the consequences of employment injuries in accordance with existing laws
  • The effects of the physical and nervous strain on the teacher's health shall be recognized as a compensable occupational disease in accordance with existing laws
• Study leave


  1. Teachers shall be entitled to study leave not exceeding one school year after seven years of service, granted in accordance with a schedule set by the Department of Education

  2. During the period of such leave, the teachers shall be entitled to at least sixty per cent of their monthly salary

  3. No teacher shall be allowed to accumulate more than one year study leave, unless he needs an additional semester to finish his thesis for a graduate study in education or allied courses

  4. No compensation shall be due the teacher after the first year of such leave

  5. The study leave period shall be counted for seniority and pension purposes

  6. The compensation allowed for one year study leave shall be subject to the condition that the teacher takes the regular study load and passes at least seventy-five per cent of his courses

  7. Study leave of more than one year may be permitted by the Secretary of Education but without compensation
• Indefinite leave


  An indefinite sick leave of absence shall be granted to teachers when the nature of the illness demands a long treatment that will exceed one year at the least
• Salary increase upon retirement


  Public school teachers having fulfilled the age and service requirements of the applicable retirement laws shall be given one range salary raise upon retirement, which shall be the basis of the computation of the lump sum of the retirement pay and the monthly pension
• Teachers are duly licensed professionals who possesses 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.
• Scope and Limitations of the Code of Ethics


  • Applies to all teachers in schools in the Philippines
  • 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" shall include industrial arts or vocational teachers and all other persons performing supervisory and /or administrative functions in all school at the aforesaid levels, whether on full time or part-time basis
• The teacher and the State

  • 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, instill allegiance to the constitution and for all duly constituted authorities, and promote obedience to the laws of the state
  • 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
  • Every teacher shall enjoy academic freedom and shall have privilege of expounding the product of his researches and investigations
• The teacher and the Community

  • A teacher is a facilitator of learning and of the development of the youth
  • 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 and refrain from such activities as gambling, smoking, drunkenness, and other excesses, much less illicit relations
  • 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
• The teacher and the Profession

  • Every teacher shall actively insure that teaching is the noblest profession, and shall manifest genuine enthusiasm and pride in teaching as a noble calling
  • Every teacher shall uphold the highest possible standards of quality education, shall make the best preparations for the career of teaching, and shall be at his best at all times and in the practice of his profession
  • Every teacher shall participate in the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) program of the Professional Regulation Commission, and shall pursue such other studies as will improve his efficiency, enhance the prestige of the profession, and strengthen his competence, virtues, and productivity in order to be nationally and internationally competitive
• The teachers and the Profession

  • Teachers shall, at all times, be imbued with the spirit of professional loyalty, mutual confidence, and faith in one another, self-sacrifice for the common good, and full cooperation with colleagues
  • A teacher is not entitled to claim credit or work not of his own, and shall give due credit for the work of others which he may use
  • A teacher shall hold inviolate all confidential information concerning associates and the school, and shall not divulge to anyone documents which has not been officially released, or remove records from files without permission
• The teacher and Higher Authorities in the Profession

  • Every teacher shall make it his duty to 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 not make any false accusations or charges against superiors, especially under anonymity
  • 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 Officials, Teachers, and Other Personnel

  • All school officials shall at all times show professional courtesy, helpfulness and sympathy towards teachers and other personnel
  • 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
  • No school officials shall dismiss or recommend for dismissal a teacher or other subordinates except for cause
• The teachers and Learners

  • A teacher has a right and duty to determine the academic marks and the promotions of learners in the subject or grades he handles
  • 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 shall not accept favors or gifts from learners, their parents or others in their behalf in exchange for requested concessions, especially if undeserved
  • A teacher shall base the evaluation of the learner's work only in merit and quality of academic performance
• In case of any complaint, teachers concerned shall immediately take appropriate actions, observing due process