SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES _) >
Third Regular Session )

SENATE 18 UL 24 P5554

Senate Bill No. 1884

Introduced by Senator Grace Poe

AN ACT
INSTITUTIONALIZING SUPPORT MECHANISMS ON MATTERS OF STUDENT
DISCIPLINE AND CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT FOR TEACHERS AND
PERSONNEL IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

Explanatory Note

Our public schools shoulder the crucial role of providing education to millions
of students every year. The classroom serves as a venue of formation for the
children where teachers spend their careers teaching not only knowledge but values
as well.

A disorganized classroom without procedures and expectations makes it
difficult for our teachers to do their job. The ambiguity of permissible teacher
conduct in the context of student discipline and classroom management hurts the
school system. This difficulty is worsened by the fact that many teachers do not
receive institutional training in the right strategies that will allow them to properly
manage student-behavioral troubles. The lack of licensed guidance counselors who
act as support personnel and legal assistance and representation also compound the
problem.

Through mandating the issuance of a teacher’s manual and provision of pre-
service and in-service training on child behavior and psychology, effective classroom
management and appropriate disciplinary techniques, the bill seeks to lay down an
overdue institutionalized support mechanisms for our public school teachers and
personnel.

In addition to the provision of guidance and support for proper classroom
management, this bill seeks to amend Republic Act 7610, commonly known as the
Child Abuse Law, insofar as any act committed by a teacher or school personnel
complying with the muti-stakeholder teacher's manual shall not be deemed as “child
abuse.” To complement this, legal assistance is provided to teachers and personnel
in cases related to student discipline and classroom management.



SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) \
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES  )
Third Regular Session )

18 JUL 24 P554

SENATE
Senate Bill No. 1884 hiss

Introduced by Senator Grace Poe

AN ACT
INSTUTUTIONALIZING SUPPORT MECHANISMS ON MATTERS OF STUDENT
DISCIPLINE AND CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT FOR TEACHERS AND
PERSONNEL IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines
in Congress assembled.

ARTICLE I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “Teacher Protection
Act",

Sec. 2. Dec/aration of Policies. — It is the declared policy of the State to protect
and promote the right of all citizens to quality education. It is likewise declared that
the State has the duty to establish and maintain a complete and adequate system of
public basic education geared towards the holistic development of a child.

To this end, the State shall institutionalize measures to implement in all public
schools clearly defined regulations for teachers on student discipline and classroom
management.

The State is also hereby bound to establish and maintain support systems,
including training on classroom management and child discipline and legal assistance
for teachers and school staff, who stand in direct contact with students in the course
of the discharge of their duties.

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Sec. 3. Coverage. - This Act shall be applicable to all teaching personnel of all
public school institutions, including non-teaching personnel who stand in direct contact
with students in the course of the discharge of their duties.

Sec. 4. Guidelines for Teachers. — The Department of Education (hereinafter
the Department) is hereby tasked to issue policies and principles on student discipline
and classroom management.

For purposes of this Act, a teacher’s manual is a written document detailing:

(1) The school’s rules and regulation to be observed by teachers with respect
to students, whenever inside its premises or outside it;

(2) Permissible, appropriate, and effective responses and interventions that will
address violation of school rules and regulations, including but not limited
to communications to parents, counseling, reprimand, and detention, at
each level and repetition of offense, to be administered by teachers, the
school head, and other school staff; and

(3) A clear description of the disciplinary procedure and clear designation of the
authorities competent to investigate, propose, and apply the responses and
interventions.

The Department shall formulate a teacher's manual to be implemented in all schools
under its jurisdiction. This manual shall set out, among others the disciplinary action
to be taken against students who are found to have made malicious accusations of
child abuse against teacher and school staff.

Sec. 5. Act pursuant to teacher's manual not deemed as child abuse. — Any act
committed by a teacher or school staff pursuant to the disciplinary rules and procedure
issued by the Department shall not be deemed as child abuse, cruelty, or exploitation
as denied in Republic Act No. 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse,
Exploitation and Discrimination Act.

Sec. 6. Consultation of involved sectors in the drafting of student manual. -
Students, parents, teachers, other school personnel, and the community, represented
by their respective organizations, as well as professionals in child behavior and social
work, shall each have meaningful involvement in the formulation of the guidelines and
the teacher's manual.


Sec. 7. Information dissemination of the student manual. - The Department
shall provide explanations, training, and workshops in order to familiarize students
and families with the student manual, explain the expectations of various sectors
involved, and describe the various preventive and positive responses and interventions
that may be used.

At the beginning of each school year, copies of the student manual shall be
provided to each student as well as their parents or legal guardians.

Sec. 8. Support personnel. - The Department, in coordination with the
Department of Budget and Management, shall also ensure that there is a sufficient
number of items for licensed guidance counselors, who will serve as support personnel
to teachers and school administrators in matters of student discipline.

For purposes of this Act, the Department shall implement the recommended
ratio of one guidance counselor for every 200 students in both public and private
primary and secondary schools.

Sec. 9. Other support mechanisms for student discipline and classroom
management. - The Department shall provide such other mechanisms necessary to
capacitate its teachers and other personnel on matters regarding child behavior and
psychology, classroom management techniques, positive discipline, and other related
fields. These measures shall include but not be limited to the conduct of periodic
seminars and formulation of primers and other explanatory materials.

Sec. 10. Protection to teaches and school personnel in charges related to
student discipline and classroom management. — In all cases related to student
discipline and classroom management, including criminal and administrative charges
of child abuse, the Department shall extend to its teachers and other personnel the
necessary protection, including but not limited to legal assistance and representation.

The Department shall ensure that respondents, in all stages of the disciplinary
proceedings, are amply represented by the accredited union, or registered union,
where there is no existing accredited union, of teachers or non-teaching employees,
as the case may be.

Violation of this section shall render the administrative proceedings void and
all responsible persons administratively liable for gross neglect of duty.



Sec. 11. Confidentiality of identity of parties and proceedings under this Act. -
No person, whether public or private and whether a party to the case or otherwise,
shall publicize a case during its pendency. In no case shall the identity of complainants
and respondents, or any information that may reasonably identify them, be disclosed
to the public during the pendency of the proceedings.

Violation of this Section shall subject the person to the appropriate
administrative, civil, criminal, and other liabilities.

The Department shall issue its guidelines for the media with regard to the
handlings of cases within the contemplation of this Act.

Sec. 12. Rules and Regulations. - Within ninety (90) days from the effective
date of this Act, the Department shall promulgate the manual, rules and regulations
necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.

Sec. 13. Separability Clause. — If any portion or provision of this Act is held
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provisions not affect thereby shall
remain in force and effect.

Sec. 14. Repealing Clause. - Republic Act No. 7610 is hereby modified
accordingly. Any law, presidential decree or issuance executive order, letter of
instruction, rule or regulation inconsistent with the provisions of this Act is hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

Sec. 15, ffectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following
its complete publication in the Official Gazette or a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,