IN line with the government’s austerity measures and in conformity with the highest ethical standards of public service, Education Secretary Armin Luistro has issued several directives that aim to rid the Education Department of corruption and graft-related activities.
Among these was Memorandum 35 that warned school officials to refrain from asking teachers to contribute any amount for the meals and accommodation of visitors/monitors. Violators of said memorandum will be dealt with accordingly, including suspension and even dismissal from the service.
“We have received feedbacks and comments from foreign observers through the department’s web site www.deped.gov.ph relative to the school visitations, inspections, monitoring and evaluation by officials and personnel from the Department of Education [DepEd] central office, regional offices, division offices and district offices,” Luistro said.
Luistro said numerous feedbacks from foreign observers reaching his office stated that whenever there are visitors/officials from the DepEd Central and Regional Offices, teachers are asked to contribute for their meals and accommodation.
“Asking teachers to contribute for the visitors’/monitors’ meals and accommodation shall not be tolerated considering that the expenses for school visitations, inspections, monitoring and evaluation activities of all DepEd personnel are covered in their daily per diem and allowable transportation expenses during official travels,” Luistro added.
Luistro stressed assistance to visiting officials, monitors must be limited to coordination so that the objectives of the school visitations, inspection, monitoring and evaluation are properly accomplished.
Earlier, Luistro ordered school officials to refrain from hanging tarpaulin, posters and banners welcoming DepEd officials during their field monitoring and visits.
The prohibition also extended to pictures of Luistro hanging inside the classrooms. Tarpaulins, posters and banners bearing the picture of DepEd officials and secretaries are a regular fixture of schools nationwide every time a visit is made.
He also ordered school officials to be more circumspect in spending their funds adding that festivities and related activities conducted during the official’s visits or monitoring should be a thing of the past.
Luistro will also be drafting an order to all DepEd officials prohibiting them from conducting any solicitations and other similar activities, which he added, places the department in a bad light.
The prohibition from receiving gifts, he said, would be extended even to rank-and-file employees of the department, and even security guards assigned to the DepEd.
