‘Simple’ Christmas décor allowed in classrooms – DepEd

MANILA, Philippines — Classrooms devoid of teaching aids and posters may have some space for “simple” Christmas decorations, a ranking education official said yesterday, as the country welcomed the unofficial start of a long Christmas season with the onset of the so-called “ber months.”

“We see no problem (with Christmas decorations) as these are usually not permanent. Of course, they can decorate their classrooms,” Department of Education (DepEd) Undersecretary and spokesman Michael Poa said in an interview with TeleRadyo Serbisyo.

“They can decorate as long as they keep it simple. What we really don’t allow are permanent decorations on (classroom) walls,” Poa said.

“Ber months” refer to the four months preceding Christmas. The month of September is a signal for Filipinos to begin displaying Christmas decorations or playing Christmas songs.

DepEd Order No. 21, Series of 2023 directs all schools to keep their classroom walls “bare and devoid of posters, decorations or other posted materials.”

In a statement recently, Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte maintained that even visual learning aids, photos of national heroes and past presidents, as well as artworks of students, should be removed.

Poa later clarified that teachers may still use visual aids, which should be removed immediately after their respective classes.

The DepEd spokesman also said schools must refrain from holding contests for best Christmas decorations to avoid unnecessary expenses, as it is usually the teachers who shoulder extra costs for such contests.