DepEd reconstitutes teachers’ uniform committee

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education has ordered the revival of a committee that would select the appropriate dress code for teachers and non-teaching personnel amid opposition to the impending implementation of a Civil Service Commission (CSC) memo mandating the wearing of Filipiniana-inspired uniforms by government workers, including public school teachers.

In his DepEd Memorandum No. 004, s. 2025, dated Jan. 8, Education Secretary Sonny Angara ordered the reconstitution of the DepEd Uniform Committee (DUC), which used to operate during school years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022.

“With arising concerns relative to the DepEd uniform at the field offices and schools, changes in the DepEd administration and directives, and to comply with the newly released Civil Service Commission MC (Memorandum Circular) No. 16, s. 2024, there is a need to reconstitute the DUC,” the memorandum read.

The reconstituted DUC, which shall include representatives from nine national organizations and associations of teachers and non-teaching employees, shall be responsible for the selection, implementation and monitoring of DepEd uniforms for SYs 2024-2025 and 2025-2026.

The committee shall be chaired by the DepEd undersecretary for human resource and organizational development, with the assistant secretary for operations serving as vice-chairperson. Organizations are required to submit their permanent representatives to the committee by Jan. 17.

In a press statement, the DepEd said the committee’s primary goal is “to ensure that uniforms are professional and appropriate for the working conditions and environments in schools nationwide” but still responsive to the recently issued CSC memorandum which revises the dress code for government officials and employees.

The DepEd and other government agencies were earlier given six months to draft and release their internal guidelines that align with CSC’s updated policies.

Current uniforms stay for now

The DepEd said that until the new internal dress code guidelines are finalized by the DUC, teachers and field personnel shall continue wearing the current prescribed uniforms.

“Until the new internal dress code of DepEd is finalized, all field personnel are advised to adhere to DM-OUHROD-2022-0042, entitled ‘Wearing of the Prescribed DepEd Uniform and Office Attire’,” the DepEd’s statement read.

Teachers are currently required to wear four sets of national uniforms from Monday to Thursday while Friday has been designated as a wash day.

However, in its recently issued MC No. 16, the CSC mandates government workers to wear an ASEAN-inspired attire every first Monday of the month and a Filipiniana outfit on the second to fourth Mondays.

The memorandum further states that the ASEAN-inspired attire should reflect the traditional garments of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Filipiniana outfits should embody Filipino culture, heritage and customs. The CSC warned that public servants who fail to comply with the policy may face disciplinary action.

In a letter addressed to CSC Chairperson Marilyn Barua-Yap, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) has called for the suspension of the implementation of the new dress code policy, saying that it is “impractical” especially for public school teachers.

The TDC cited the “unique” working conditions in public schools, including cramped classrooms, lack of proper ventilation and the physical demands that come with teaching.

“Teachers are not stationary. Most of us are constantly moving from one classroom to another. Unlike many office personnel who perform their tasks in air-conditioned offices, teachers endure heat, especially during the hottest months,” TDC national chairperson Benjo Basas said.