Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte announced on Thursday that she has instructed officials not to penalize the public school teacher whose TikTok video, berating her students, went viral on social media.
Speaking during an impromptu interview in Cambodia, Duterte stated that she had reviewed the teacher’s explanation and advised her to take a pause from teaching whenever she feels angry.
“I informed our regional office that there will be no penalties for the teacher. We simply need to remind her that when she’s angry, she must pause. She should halt the class until she regains her composure, and then resume teaching,” Duterte remarked.
The Department of Education (DepEd) had previously issued a show cause order against the teacher following the circulation of the scolding video, granting her 72 hours to provide an explanation.
In response to the incident, Duterte emphasized that everyone, including teachers, experiences moments of anger, particularly when faced with frustration. She noted the challenges teachers encounter, often managing classes with a large number of students.
“My initial reaction was that the teacher is human. We all experience anger, especially when we’re frustrated. This rings particularly true for teachers, who interact with not just one but sometimes up to 55 students in a class,” the DepEd chief stated.
However, Duterte clarified that while understanding the human element, teachers must uphold professionalism. She highlighted DepEd’s child protection policy, which prohibits any actions or words that demean the dignity of a child as child abuse.
Additionally, according to DepEd Order Number 49, teachers are barred from going live on social media platforms under the guidelines for Professionalism in the Implementation and Delivery of Basic Education Programs and Services.
