Teachers reminded to keep boundaries with learners

• Published date: 04 November 2022
• Publication title: Philippines News agency

The Department of Education (DepEd) reminded Friday its teaching and non-teaching personnel to uphold professionalism and maintain boundaries with learners.

In an interview, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte said teachers and non-teaching personnel should not have 'friendly relations' with learners outside the classroom setup.

'As a teacher, mayroon talagang line between him or her and the learner (As a teacher, there should be a [clear] line between him or her and the learner). Dapat hindi sila magkaroon ng (there should not be) friendly relations with their learners outside of the learning institution setting dahil nagkakaroon ng bias 'yung isang tao kapag nagiging kaibigan na niya (because there would be a bias for the person once they become friends),' she said.

Duterte issued the reminder following the release of DepEd Order (DO) 49, an amendment of DO 47 promoting professionalism in the implementation and delivery of basic learning programs and services.

Under DO 49, teachers are expected to 'avoid relationships, interaction, and communication, including following social media with learners outside of the school setting, except if they are relatives.'

The DepEd released the amendment...