Sara: It’s final, leave classroom walls bare

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte is standing by her order to keep classroom walls free from any decoration, including traditional visual learning aids.

“The order is what it is. Take out everything on the wall and let learners focus on their studies. Classrooms and schools should be clean, orderly and functional,” Duterte said in a statement, read by Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary and spokesman Michael Poa in an interview with TeleRadyo Serbisyo yesterday.

Duterte issued the statement as several teachers’ groups sought clarification on DepEd Order No. 21, series of 2023 or the implementing guidelines for Brigada Eskwela, which stated that all schools must ensure that “school grounds, classrooms and all their walls and other school facilities are clean and free from unnecessary artwork, decorations, tarpaulin and posters at all times.”

“Classroom walls shall remain bare and devoid of posters, decorations or other posted materials. Classrooms should not be used to stockpile materials and should be clear of other unused items or items for disposal,” the DO No. 21 read.

Over the weekend, the Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC) advised school heads and teachers “not to take too literally” the DepEd order, adding that the directive may only pertain to “unnecessary posters.”

“We have to understand posters and educational materials really aid in the learning. Studies showed that visual aids really help in the understanding or learning of children,” TDC chairman Benjo Basas said in Filipino.

Poa, however, maintained that all materials on classroom walls must be removed, including visual learning aids, photos of national heroes and past presidents, as well as the artworks of students.

“The directive of our Vice President is ... she really wants all the walls bare. She wants classrooms to be clean, orderly and functional,” he said in English and Filipino in his radio interview.

He added that visual aids might still be used by teachers, but only during their respective classes, pointing out that several subjects are taught inside a single classroom in a day.

Even Duterte, during her participation in the Brigada Eskwela activity in Bansalan, Davao del Sur last Thursday, removed decorations in one classroom, including a printed version of her official portrait, according to Poa.

Duterte was also seen removing materials posted on a bulletin board.

Poa said the DepEd order shall also apply to photos of past presidents and national heroes.

“I know that President Marcos and all other former presidents and all heroes past and present will not at all be bothered if learners focus on their teachers, lessons, projects and assignments,” Duterte said in her statement, as read by Poa during the radio interview.

Asked if crucifixes in classroom walls shall also be removed, the DepEd official did not answer categorically, but stressed that public schools should be “non-sectarian.”

Prayers in classroom must also be non-sectarian for public schools, according to Poa.

“We pray, but what we want is for the prayer to be for all religions, not just for Catholics,” he said in Filipino.

Meanwhile, in an interview aired over ANC, Alliance of Concerned Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro called the DepEd’s order unnecessary and not backed by any study.

“I think the (DepEd) memo is unnecessary. Since the teachers know how to make visuals, especially for learners who really want visuals inside the classrooms ... these are visual aids that help teachers and students in their teaching and learning process. These do not result in distractions or lack of focus, as what the DepEd secretary is saying,” Castro said.

She added that what really distract students from learning is the overcrowding of classrooms due to classroom shortage.

“What really needs to be addressed by the DepEd is the class sizes and the heavy workloads of teachers. The DepEd must also provide learning visuals for our students,” Castro said in Filipino.

“They did not even provide any study (before issuing the order). During the Brigada Eskwela, teachers, students and parents had already prepared the classrooms, including some visual aids. There were no consultations with teachers as to what to do with these visual aids, if these are really needed or not. I think many of our teachers disagree with this memo, as these visual aids really help in the learning process, especially of elementary pupils,” she added.