No Penalties for Teacher’s Viral Outburst, Advises Education Secretary
In a surprising turn of events, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte has instructed the regional office not to impose penalties on a public school teacher who became the subject of viral scrutiny after a video of her berating students surfaced on TikTok.
During an interview in Cambodia, Secretary Duterte expressed understanding of the teacher’s situation, advising her to take a break from teaching when feeling overwhelmed with anger. “I told our regional office that there will be no penalties for the teacher. They just have to remind the teacher that if she is angry, she has to pause. Stop the class for a while and when she’s not angry anymore, she can resume,” Duterte stated.
The Department of Education (DepEd) had previously issued a show cause order to the teacher, demanding an explanation within 72 hours following the video’s widespread circulation. However, Duterte empathized with the teacher’s human nature to feel anger, especially under frustrating circumstances, a sentiment that resonates with educators who often manage classes of up to 55 students.
Despite the DepEd’s child protection policy, which condemns any act that undermines the worth and dignity of a child, and regulations prohibiting live social media broadcasts during classes, the decision to forgo disciplinary action underscores a recognition of the challenges faced by educators and the need for supportive measures rather than punitive responses.