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 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.

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.
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.

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, instill
allegiance to the constitution and for all duly constituted authorities, and
promote obedience to the laws of the state.
Section 2. Every teacher or school official shall actively help carryout the
declared policies of the state, and shall take an oath to this effect.
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.
Section 4. Every teacher shall possess and actualize a full commitment and
devotion to duty.
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
Section 6. Every teacher shall vote and shall exercise all other constitutional
rights and responsibility.
Section 7. A teacher shall not use his position or facial authority or influence to
coerce any other person to follow any political course of action.
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.

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.
Section 2. Every teacher shall provide leadership and initiative to actively
participate in community movements for moral, social, educational, economic
and civic betterment.
Section 3. Every teacher shall merit reasonable social recognition for which
purpose he shall behave with honor and dignity at all times and refrain for
such activities as gambling, smoking, drunkenness, and other excesses, much
less illicit relations.
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.
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.
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 counseling services, as appropriate, and to actively be
involved in matters affecting the welfare of the people.
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.
Section 8. A teacher posses freedom to attend church and worships as
appropriate, but shall not use his positions and influence to proselyte others.

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.
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.
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.
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.
Section 5. Every teacher shall use the teaching profession in a manner that
makes it dignified means for earning a descent living.

ARTICLE V – THE TEACHERS AND THE PROFESSION

Section 1. Teacher 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,
teacher shall support one another.
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.
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.
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 the
files without permission.
Section 5. It shall be the responsibility of every teacher to seek correctives for
what he may appear to be an unprofessional and unethical conduct of any
associates. However, this may be done only if there is incontrovertible
evidence for such conduct.
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.
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.
 ARTICLE VI – THE TEACHER AND HIGHER
AUTHORITIES IN THE PROFESSIONS
Section 1. Every teacher shall make it his duties 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.

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 enlighten directions.
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.
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.
Section 4. No school officials shall dismiss or recommend for dismissal a
teacher or other subordinates except for cause.
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.

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, 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, of serving
due process.
Section 2. A teacher shall recognize that the interest and welfare of learners are of first and
foremost concerns, and shall deal justifiably and impartially with each of them.
Section 3. Under no circumstance shall a teacher be prejudiced nor discriminated against by
the learner.
Section 4. 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.
Section 5. A teacher shall not accept, directly or indirectly, any remuneration from tutorials
other what is authorized for such service.
 Section 6. A teacher shall base the evaluation of the learner’s work only in
merit and quality of academic performance.
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.
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.
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.

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.
Section 2. Every teacher shall inform parents, through proper authorities, of
the progress and deficiencies of learner under him. exercising utmost candor
and tact in pointing out learners deficiencies and in seeking parent’s
cooperation for the proper guidance and improvement of the learners.
Section 3. A teacher shall hear parent’s complaints with sympathy and
understanding, and shall discourage unfair criticism.

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.
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.
Section 6. A teacher shall base the evaluation of the learner’s work only in
merit and quality of academic performance.
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.
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.
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.

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.

Section 2. Every teacher shall inform parents, through proper authorities, of

the progress and deficiencies of learner under him. exercising utmost candor
and tact in pointing out learners deficiencies and in seeking parent’s
cooperation for the proper guidance and improvement of the learners.

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.
 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.
Section 2. A teacher shall place premium upon self-discipline as the primary principles of
personal behavior in all relationships with others and in all situations.
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.
Section 4. A teacher shall always recognize the Almighty God as guide of his own destiny
and of the destinies of men and nations.

ARTICLE XII – DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

Section 1. Any violation of any provisions 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, reprimand or cancellation of his temporary/special permit
under causes specified in Sec. 23. Article HI or R.A. No. 7836. and under Rule 31. Article
VIII. 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 it’s publication in the official Gazette or any
newspaper of general circulation, whichever is earlier.
 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A TEACHER
KNOWLEDGE OF THE SUBJECT

 To have expert knowledge of the subject area

 To pursue relevant opportunities to grow professionally and keep up-to-date about the current knowledge and research in the subject
area

TEACHING

 To plan and prepare appropriately the assigned courses and lectures

 To conduct assigned classes at the scheduled times
 To demonstrate competence in classroom instruction
 To implement the designated curriculum completely and in due time
 To plan and implement effective classroom management practices
 To design and implement effective strategies to develop self-responsible/independent learners
 To promote students’ intrinsic motivation by providing meaningful and progressively challenging learning experiences which
include, but are not limited to: self-exploration, questioning, making choices, setting goals, planning and organizing, implementing,
self-evaluating and demonstrating initiative in tasks and projects
 To engage students in active, hands-on, creative problem-based learning
 To provide opportunities for students to access and use current technology, resources and information to solve problems
 To provides opportunities for students to apply and practice what is learned
 To engage students in creative thinking and integrated or interdisciplinary learning experiences
 To build students’ ability to work collaboratively with others
 To adapt instruction/support to students’ differences in development, learning styles, strengths and needs

ASSESSMENT

 To define and communicate learning expectations to students

 To apply appropriate multiple assessment tools and strategies to evaluate and promote the continuous intellectual development of the
students
 To assign reasonable assignments and homework to students as per university rules
 To evaluate students’ performances in an objective, fair and timely manner
 To record and report timely the results of quizzes, assignments, mid- and final semester exams
 To use student assessment data to guide changes in instruction and practice, and to improve student learning

PROFESSIONALISM

 To be punctual and be available in the university during official working hours

 To comply with policies, standards, rules, regulations and procedures of the university
 To prepare and maintain course files
 To take precautions to protect university records, equipment, materials, and facilities
 To participate responsibly in university improvement initiatives
 To attend and participate in faculty meetings and other assigned meetings and activities according to university policy
 To demonstrate timeliness and attendance for assigned responsibilities
 To work collaboratively with other professionals and staff
 To demonstrate the ability to perform teaching or other responsibilities, including good work habits, reliability, punctuality and
follow-through on commitments

GOOD BEHAVIOUR

 To model honesty, fairness and ethical conduct

 To model a caring attitude and promote positive inter-personal relationships
 To model correct use of language, oral and written
 To foster student self-control, self-discipline and responsibility to others
 To model and promote empathy, compassion and respect for the gender, ethnic, religious, cultural and learning
diversity of students
 To demonstrate skill when managing student behaviour, intervening and resolving discipline problems
 To model good social skills, leadership and civic responsibility