Teachers group wants clarification on DepEd’s “decluttering” order in classrooms

The Teachers Dignity Coalition (TDC) asked the Department of Education (DepEd) to clarify its order to remove unnecessary classroom decorations to prevent teachers from disposing legitimate teaching aids that they’ve prepared ahead of the school year.

Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte should define what decorations DepEd deems as unnecessary to prevent teachers from taking the order literally,

TDC representative Benjo Basas said highlighting that there’s no specific directive nor specificity in the order yet.

We can't just say unnecessary and expect each one to have their own justifications, because what's necessary for one person may not be necessary for another,

he said.

The order to declutter classrooms came after Duterte told schools to ensure that classrooms are free from clutter before the opening of classes this year.

Basas argued about the importance of visual aids as means to motivate learning or as additional instructional materials.

There are studies that show children learn better through visually stimulating learning materials like posters, and charts… [These visual aids] contribute to learning,

he said.

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In the implementing guidelines issued for the conduct of 2023 BE contained in DepEd Order No. 21 s. of 2023, signed by Duterte, the agency highlighted the maintenance of clean schools.

The DO instructed schools to ensure that school grounds, classrooms and all its walls and other school facilities are clean and free from unnecessary artwork, decorations, tarpaulin and posters at all times.

It also asked schools to take down oversized signages with commercial advertisements, words of sponsorships and/or endorsements or announcements of any kind or nature.

Furthermore, DepEd instructed schools to ensure that classroom walls shall remain bare and devoid of posters, decorations or other posted materials; as well as classrooms should not be used to stockpile materials and should be clear of unused items for disposal.