CODE OF ETHICS FOR PROFESSIONAL TEACHERS

Pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (e), Article 11, of R.A. No. 7836, otherwise
known as the Philippine Teachers Professionalization Act of 1994 and paragraph (a),
section 6, P.D. No. 223, as amended, the Board for Professional Teachers hereby
adopt the Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers.

Preamble
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.

Article I: Scope and Limitations

Section 1. The Philippine Constitution provides that all educational institution shall offer
quality education for all competent teachers. Committed to its full realization, the
provision of this Code shall apply, therefore, to all teachers in schools in the Philippines.
- This code shall apply to all teachers in schools in the Philippines.

Section 2. 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” 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.
- It covers all public and private school teachers in all educational institutions at the
primary, elementary, secondary levels, whether academic, vocational, technical, or
non-formal. So even if you are an ALS teacher or a mobile teacher you are still
covered with this code of ethics.

Article II: The Teacher and the State

Section 1. 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.
-This section means that school is the center of the learning of each learner, in which
teachers are the one that is responsible for the learnings that the learners can gain,
thus this learning does not only focus on the academic knowledge but also the notion to
love each person and to give value to the state.

Section 2. Every teacher or school official shall actively help carry out the declared
policies of the state, and shall take an oath to this effect.
-As teachers, the administered policies of the state must be valued and followed and to
promise to obey this policies.

Section 3. 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.
- For every teacher to be able to teach with all their competence they must be healthy
physically and mentally.

Section 4. Every teacher shall possess and actualize a full commitment and devotion to
duty.
By this section, when it comes to teaching a teacher should not put in mind the salary
that they can get instead they should be comitted and shows a passion of teaching in
where their learners should gain knowledge full-mindedly.

Section 5. 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.
-As stated in the Constitution, and in accordance with existing rules and regulations of
the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Commission on Elections (COMELEC),
government officials and employees are prohibited from engaging in any electioneering
and partisan political activity to ensure civil servants are focused on public service and
shield them from the unpredictability of politics. Teachers also are not allowed to
request for solicitation if is for needed purposes.

Section 6. Every teacher shall vote and shall exercise all other constitutional rights and
responsibility.
-Teachers are also citizens of the country. Whereas, as a citizen, they are likewise
entitled of all the rights vested and enjoyed by every citizen of the nation.

Section 7. A teacher shall not use his position or official authority or influence to coerce
any other person to follow any political course of action.
-. It is a teacher’s responsibility to impart knowledge to their students. They are stepping
outside of their position and into more salesperson area if they have to force their
listeners to believe what they are saying.

Section 8. 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.
- Each teacher shall enjoy academic freedom and shall the privilege of sharing the
product of his researches and investigations, provided that, if the results are inimical to
the declared policies of the state, they shall be drawn to the proper authorities for
appropriate remedial action.

Article III: The Teacher and the Community

Section 1. 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.
-Teacher as a facilitator include chances for learners to make connections between
what they are learning. To help students develop their critical thinking abilities, it is a
good idea to encourage them to draw connections to real-world situations and spot
patterns. Real-world examples will improve rigor, applicability, and critical thinking.

Section 2. Every teacher shall provide leadership and initiative to actively participate in
community movements for moral, social, educational, economic and civic betterment.
-Teacher’s xposure to diversity has an impact on students, particularly personal
outcomes, such as identity development and cultural understanding. Again, community
involvement is important at every phase of a project to make certain that this learning
can take place.
Section 3. 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.
-According to the Code of Ethics it dictates that every teacher shall merit reasonable
social recognition for which purpose he shall behave with honor and dignity at all times
and refrain from such activities as gambling, smoking, drunkenness and other
excesses, much less illicit relations, and a teacher shall maintain at all times a dignified
personality which could serve as model worthy of emulation by learners, peers, and
others.

Section 4. 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.
-Teachers can interact with the school neighborhood and local businesses. Sharing your
school’s vision as you engage with social groups helps instill a mutual understanding.
These collaborations serve to strengthen school and community partnerships.

Section 5. 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.
-Teachers help students to accomplish various task. In which teachers also learn
something in every lesson.

Section 6. 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.
-Educators play an important role in the development of people and communities. They
encourage a stronger link between home, school, and
Community through effective programs developed and implemented by teachers.

Section 7. Every teacher shall maintain harmonious and pleasant personal and official
relations with other professionals, with government officials, and with the people,
individually or collectively.
- As a professional teacher you should maintain the essence of being a professional
or showing professionalism towards officials of the government at any places.
Section 8. A teacher possesses freedom to attend church and worships as appropriate,
but shall not use his positions and influence to proselyte others.
-This simply means that a teacher is free what religion he/she will be going to adapt or
to follow.

Article IV: A Teacher and the Profession

Section 1. Every teacher shall actively insure that teaching is the noblest profession,
and shall manifest genuine enthusiasm and pride in teaching as a noble calling.
-You should not compare your profession to other professionals because as a teacher
your are vocated to your chosen profession.

Section 2. 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.
-Being a teacher you should ensure that you do your best in teaching no matter what
the circumstances are.
Do not let those circumstances to hinders the best learnings that can a student can
gain

Section 3. 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.
-Teachers should participate in seminars to improve their teaching competence and
can able to know better on their profession, especially to the course of their field.

Section 4. Every teacher shall help, if duly authorized, to seek support from the school,
but shall not make improper misrepresentations through personal advertisements and
other questionable means.
-As a teacher you should know how to separate your personal issues or problems to
your professional life.

Section 5. Every teacher shall use the teaching profession in a manner that makes it
dignified means for earning a decent living.
-As a person bringing the title of a professional teacher you should ensure that you are
not going to break the reputation the title professional teacher.

Article V: The Teachers and the Profession

Section 1. 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. When the best interest of the learners, the school, or
the profession is at stake in any controversy, teachers shall support one another.
-Being a teacher, he/she must possess the spirit of professionalism, self-
esteem, loyalty, faith in one another and above all the heart who is ready to sacrifice for
the good of everyone. If and only if there is any controversy , a teachers must be there
for each other.

Section 2. 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.
-Being a teacher you are not allowed to own and claim any work that is not
your work. If doing so, it is not right. You should put credits to the rightful owner of
such work because it is already considered plagiarism.

Section 3. Before leaving his position, a teacher shall organize for whoever assumes the
position such records and other data as are necessary to carry on the work.
-As a teacher, if you are planning to leave you work make sure you instructed
someone whoever temporary or permanently be in your position knows the stuffs
and every records which are necessarily need in the work.

Section 4. 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.
-A teacher must know how to keep confidential matters privately with regards
to the professional things. You must not be tackless and reckless in every thing you
do especially when it comes to exposing records of the institution that was not
impose by the school. You should ask permission first it was necessary and if not
wait for the institution to reveal it.

Section 5. It shall be the responsibility of every teacher to seek correctives for what
may appear to be an unprofessional and unethical conduct of any associate. However,
this may be done only if there is incontrovertible evidence for such conduct.

-If there is any unethical doing and inappropriate actions taken by the
teacher, it is the duty of the teacher to correct such actions. Yet, this must be
done , if only and if, the evidence founds was undeniable.

Section 6. A teacher may submit to the proper authorities any justifiable criticism against
an associate, preferably in writing, without violating the right of the individual concerned.
 -This section states that if the teacher has any complaints against his or her
colleagues , the complaints must undergo in a process and submit it to the proper
authorities without committing any violation.

Section 7. A teacher may apply for a vacant position for which he is qualified; provided
that he respects the system of selection on the basis of merit and competence;
provided, further, that all qualified candidates are given the opportunity to be
considered.
-If possible, a teacher has an opportunity to apply for a vacant position
provided that he/she is qualified for that position. In choosing the right for that
position, all teachers who are applying for that position should be consider and that
he/she respects the process of selection.

Article VI: The Teacher and Higher Authorities

Section 1. 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.
-This section means that a teacher knows to comprehend the lawful policies of
the school as well as support its decision despite having your personal opinion and
feelings. This must be handled well and in a faithful manner.

Section 2. 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.
-It is one of the rule for teachers to not conclude anything without any facts
and certain evidences against colleagues that will prove the said accusations.
Especially, it the accusations are unknown and anonymous. If ever you did such
thing, you must present yourself to the authority.

Section 3. 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.
- This pertains a teacher must follow the proper channels when conducting all
business, unless there are exceptional circumstances that call for a different course
of action. Example, when the teacher's immediate superiors or higher rank
individuals are against to the special circumstances and the teacher still needs to be
heard. In these situations, the teacher must appeal directly to the relevant higher
authority or to the personnel who can help.

Section 4. 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 possesses. In doing so, they shall avoid jeopardizing the
interest and the welfare of learners whose right to learn must be respected.
-This particular section protects the right of the learners which is to learn. If
you noticed that there’s something wrong with the flow of the administration, a teacher
has the right to seek the truth and raise any grievances.

Section 5. 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.
 -Teacher has the right to rely on the based principle regarding on the
recruitment of teachers, promoting and even transferring of teachers which are
exclusively based on the merit and the need.

Section 6. A teacher who accepts a position assumes a contractual obligation to live up

to his contract, assuming full knowledge of employment terms and conditions.
-This clause means that a teacher who takes the job and profession must
know the all the terms and conditions and accountable for it. He/she must take full
responsibility of those rules throughout his/her contract.

Article VII: School Officials, Teachers, and Other Personnel

Section 1. 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.
-Persons who are part of the institution, the stakeholders, staff teachers shall
practice the professional courtesy, open to help with coworkers, possess the attitude
of sympathy which all of these traits reflect the effective school administration,
leadership and sets a high standards to the field.
Section 2. 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.
-Pertains that teacher must carry the abilities to create new policies and rules
and consider it as part of the responsibility. If anything things, a teacher can implement
and present interventions for the some changes of the existing policies.
Section 3. 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.
-This means that an institution shall encourage its teachers to participate to
any training programs that can enhance their skills. Activities that recommends any
promotions and recognition for their applause and recognizable performance.

Section 4. No school officials shall dismiss or recommend for dismissal a teacher or

other subordinates except for cause.
-This refers to the school officials which they are not authorized to offer a
dismissal paper for a teacher or other personnel without any valid reason. If it is needed
then that’s the time but if it’s not, it’s not okay.

Section 5. School authorities concern 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.
-Public school teachers must be hired in accordance with applicable civil service
regulations, and private school teachers must be given contracts outlining the terms and
conditions of their employment, as long as they are granted, if qualified, succeeding
stable career in accordance with current laws.
 Article VIII: The Teachers and Learners
Section 1. 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.
- It means that a teacher has given the duty and responsibility to acknowledge
the academic marks and promotion of the students provided that process of
determining those grades is in a fair and just manner and undergone due
process.

Section 2. 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.
- As a teacher, in everything you do, you must always consider the welfare
and the state of your learners. Above all things, this must be your concern
and should done in a fair manner.

Section 3. Under no circumstance shall a teacher be prejudiced or discriminate against

a learner.
- Teacher should treat fairly his/her learners and not discriminate them. If do
so, this will create a gap between the teachers and learners and affect the
self-esteem of the learners.

Section 4. A teacher shall not accept favours or gifts from learners, their parents or
others in their behalf in exchange for requested concessions, especially if undeserved.
 - This section refers that the teacher to not accept and received any gifts from
learners, parents and other personnel if and only if , it serves as an
exchange from the favours or any request.

Section 5. A teacher shall not accept, directly or indirectly, any remuneration from
tutorials other what is authorized for such service.
- This means that a teacher should not accept any compensation from
tutorials or any services because it is already part of her/his job. Example,
one of your students asks you to teach his/her the lessons that he/she didn’t
understand from your lesson. Then, you teach him/her. After that, you should
not ask any payment or fee from him/her because it is already part of your
profession.

Section 6. A teacher shall base the evaluation of the learner’s work only in merit and
quality of academic performance.
- When it comes to the evaluation of the learner’s output, a teacher must give
his/her remarks based only in merit and the quality of academic
performance. Whether, your student is immediate family or you have any
relationship, you should not consider it when it comes to the grading.

Section 7. 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.
- If you are a teacher and you are put in a situation where you have a mutual
understanding towards your student, you develop feelings with that
individual, as a teacher you must act professionally inside the school
premises, act as a teacher and avoid any scandal and bias treatment with
the learner.

Section 8. A teacher shall not inflict corporal punishment on offending learners nor make
deductions from their scholastic ratings as a punishment for acts which are clearly not
manifestation of poor scholarship.
- A teacher should not impose physical punishment on misbehaving students
or subtract points from their scholastic ratings as punishment for actions that
are plainly not indicative of poor scholarship. Example, if one of your
learners commit such mistake, you shouldn’t impose corporal punishment
or any minus there points just because an individual did such thing.

Section 9. 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.
- Being a teacher, you should be open when it comes to helping your
learners with their problems. A teacher is the second mother of the
students that’s why teacher has the right to nurture the students for them
to become more better with themselves.

Article IX: The Teachers and Parents

Section 1. Every teacher shall establish and maintain cordial relations with parents, and
shall conduct himself to merit their confidence and respect.
- This section means that every teacher must have a good relationship
towards the parents of the students to gain confidence and respect from
them.

Section 2. 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.
 - The teacher shall communicate the parents regarding the learning
development and performance of his/her child inside the classroom. In that
way, the parents are aware of their child’s performance and can help to
enhance the learning capabilities of their child if needed.

Section 3. A teacher shall hear parent’s complaints with sympathy and understanding,
and shall discourage unfair criticism.
- This pertains that a teacher and a parents must have a good relationship as
it is a way for them to wholeheartedly open up to each other regarding
parent’s queries and for the teacher to have a sympathy and better
understand the parents. A teacher must avoid unfair judgement and
eradicate biases.

Article X: The Teacher and Business

Section 1. 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.
- A teacher has the right to work for a living, either directly or indirectly, as
long as no bearing on or negative effects on his teaching duties.

Section 2. A teacher shall maintain a good reputation with respect to the financial
matters such as in the settlement of his debts and loans in arranging satisfactorily his
private financial affairs.
- A teacher must maintain to positive financial reputation which includes
paying of his obligations and loans and managing his private finances
successfully.

Section 3. 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.
- No teacher shall serve as an agent for, or have a financial interest in any
business that provides textbooks and other school supplies in the purchase
or sale of which he can exercise of financial influence, except when his
assignment is directly related to such purchase or disposal; provided further,
that members duly recognize teachers cooperatives may participate in such
activities.
 Article XI: The Teacher as a Person
Section 1. 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.

- Above all, the teacher is a person with a life, and it is their highest duty to
live that life with dignity at all times, whether they are at work, at home, or
anywhere else.

Section 2. 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 must emphasize self-discipline as the fundamental rule of conduct
in all interpersonal interactions and circumstances.

Section 3. 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.
- A teacher must always maintain a respectable demeanor that can be used
as an example for students, and everyone else.

Section 4. A teacher shall always recognize the Almighty God as guide of his own
destiny and of the destinies of men and nations.
- A teacher must constantly acknowledge that the Almighty God is the creator
of both his own destiny and the fate of all individuals and all nations.

Article XII: Disciplinary Actions

Section 1. 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 of teaching profession, or reprimand or cancellation of his
temporary/special permit under causes specified in Sec. 23, Article III or R.A. No. 7836,
and under Rule 31, Article VIII, of the Rules and Regulations Implementing R.A. 7836.
- Any violation of a provision of this code shall be sufficient justification for the
imposition of disciplinary action against the offending teacher, which may
include revoking his Certificate of registration and License as a Teacher,
suspending him from practicing his profession as a teacher, or reprimanding
him or canceling his temporary/special permit for the reasons listed in
Section 23, Article III or R.A. No. 7836 as well as Article VIII, Rule 31, of the
Rules and Regulations Implementing R.A. 7836.

Article XIII: Effectivity

Section 1. 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.
- This Code will go into effect after being approved by the Professional
Regulation Commission and sixty (60) days after it has been published in
the Official Gazette or another newspaper with wide distribution, which ever
comes first.