Duterte’s move of clearing classrooms of “unnecessary decorations” gets DepEd-7 chief’s support
DepEd-7 regional director Dr. Salustiano Jimenez
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Education Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio’s directive of keeping the classrooms clean and free from any unnecessary artwork, decorations, tarpaulins, and posters has the backing of DepEd-7 regional director Dr. Salustiano Jimenez.
Duterte’s move was contained in DepEd Order No. 21 issued on August 3, 2023, which sets the guidelines for the implementation of 2023’s “Brigada Eskwela.”
Duterte’s order stated that maintenance of schools shall ensure that school grounds, classrooms all its walls, and other school facilities should remain clean and free from unnecessary artwork, decorations, tarpaulin, and posters at all times.
It added that oversized signages with commercial advertisements, words of sponsorship, and/or endorsements or announcements of any kind of nature shall be taken down.
Jimenez, for his part, agrees with the move of Duterte saying that decorations and visual aids in classrooms may disrupt or distract students’ learning.
“When I became the regional director way back in 2019, I also emphasized to our superintendents in one of our Mancomms that we shall have minimalist in our put-ups,” Jimenez said.
“When I visited some schools, murag wala nama’y lugar ang mga bata kay tanang corners naa pa’y landscaping, napay bisan unsa nalang, unya gipang put-up,” he added.
Jimenez said that filling the classroom with decorations may also pose a threat, especially fire-related incidents.
Jimenez added that teachers would only tend to decorate their classrooms due to the evaluation conducted by their principals.
“Aside from that, our teachers as well has been complaining about evaluation nga daghan kaayong checklist nga pangitaon gikan sa ilang principals. Mahitabo nga puno kaayo ang classroom, gamay na ug space ang mga bata to move,” he said.
Jimenez said that he was happy with the directive of the secretary since it coincided with his idea in the past.
He said that schools in Central Visayas have already started implementing Duterte’s order.
Instead of posting them on the walls, Jimenez suggested to teachers to just present their visual aids during discussion of their lessons to excite their learners. /rcg
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