DepEd summons scolding teacher

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) has issued a show-cause order against a teacher who went viral on social media for berating her students live on video platform TikTok.

DepEd Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas said the department’s National Capital Region office gave the teacher 72 hours to submit an explanation as to why she should not be sanctioned administratively.

Bringas said the head of the school in Metro Manila where the teacher works and the division superintendent held a conference yesterday about the matter.

He said the DepEd would conduct a thorough investigation, adding that the video alone should not be the basis in determining the teacher’s liability.

“The possible sanctions, depending on the gravity of the offense, will be reprimand or suspension and the gravest is dismissal. So we need to ascertain the culpability of the teacher, if there really is, in violating provisions of DepEd issuances,” Bringas said.

On TikTok video, the teacher was seen scolding her students when she supposedly felt disrespected.

“I did not pass the board exam just so I could be disrespected by the likes of you whose lives have yet to amount to something. You are not bright students, you also have bad attitude,” she said in Filipino.

Bringas said the DepEd implements social media guidelines for teachers.

Under Department Order 49 Series of 2022, employees and officials of DepEd are reminded to exercise caution in posting on social media, should not spread false information, refrain from posting online attacks against fellow employees and should not disparage DepEd.

Fake scholarships

Meanwhile, DepEd warned the public against fake online posts indicating that the agency gives out scholarships to students from elementary to college.

In a statement, DepEd said parents should not give their children’s school information and identification to perpetrators of fake news.

The post in question showed the DepEd logo with a photo of Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, saying all they require is the school ID for students to receive scholarship money.

The post stated that elementary students would get P5,000, high school students would receive P7,000 and students in college and vocational schools would get P10,000.

“These posts are illegally using the DepEd seal and the photo of Secretary Sara Duterte to scam people,” DepEd said.