Department Of Education (DepEd) Urges Teachers To Not Partake In Partisan Political Practices, In Relation To Upcoming 2019 Elections
DEPED – The Department of Education (DepEd) recently reminded teaching and non-teaching personnel not to engage in any partisan political activities.
A report in GMA News states that this was announced on Tuesday via Education Secretary Leonor Briones. Briones further added that the policy applies not only to party-list members but everyone else who, especially and usually teachers, be members of various organizations and associations aside from party-lists.
Briones further noted that the Civil Service on the prohibited acts are clear because teachers also have the right to vote but the acts listed in the Civil Service Commission circular are clearly prohibited.
The policy Briones cited was the Department of Education (DepEd) Order No. 48, which identifies actions considered as partisan political activities such as:
- Forming organization for the purpose of soliciting votes;
- Making speeches or commentaries, holding interviews for or against the election of any candidate;
- Publishing, displaying and distributing campaigned materials designed to support or oppose the election of a candidate;
Receiving any contribution for political purposes; - Wearing t-shirts, pins, or caps or any other campaign paraphernalia;
Being a watcher for a political party or candidate; and - Utilizing government resources such as personnel.
Furthermore, Briones added that DepEd officials are also “prohibited to use their positions to influence teaching and non-teaching personnel to support any candidate or political party.”
As per the report, Briones said that the agency keeps on reminding teachers so that everything would be clear and organized for the upcoming polls. She added that officials of the executive branch of government must show a sense of political neutrality.
Despite this, teachers are allowed to express their personal political views.
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