School principal in graduation toga incident sacked

MANILA, Philippines — A school principal who berated senior high school students for wearing togas during their graduation ceremony in Laua-an, Antique has been removed from her post.

“Because of the President’s directive, DepEd (Department of Education) Secretary Sonny Angara immediately acted on the issue and the teacher was removed as principal of the school,” Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said at a Palace briefing yesterday.

The principal’s license was not revoked and she is still allowed to teach in other schools.

“She was only dismissed as principal of the school. The (order to cancel) license will not come from the President or the DepEd secretary,” Castro said. “She is still allowed (to teach) and we will still look at what kind of behavior she has. That is necessary, that is important, especially since she is a teacher.” 

A viral video showed the principal admonishing students of the Col. Ruperto Abellon National High School for supposedly violating a policy of the DepEd. 

She ordered the students to take off their togas and the class advisers to list down the names of those who violated the graduation dress code.

The DepEd earlier clarified that while the school uniform is the prescribed attire for end-of-school-year rites, wearing of toga is not prohibited.