DepEd probes teacher scolding students on TikTok

MANILA, Philippines — A public teacher scolding her students live on short-form video platform TikTok is being investigated by the Department of Education (DepEd).

“We are verifying the report from the field and will require a complete incident report to determine the next course of action in accordance with existing DepEd policies. We will give you updates as soon as available,” Education Assistant Secretary Francis Cesar Bringas told reporters on Saturday. 

In a video circulating on social media over the weekend, the unidentified teacher was visibly angry at her class for still unknown reasons. 

She shouted at her students for their supposed “arrogance” and “lack of respect.” She also berated them, saying they have trashy behavior, they will not achieve anything and they have no place in the world. 

The teacher also called her students ingrates and unintelligent. 

DepEd personnel must “respect legal restrictions and department rules when using social media” and must be “cautious not to spread false information or launch online attacks” against colleagues or students, according to Department Order 49 signed by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte on Nov. 2, 2022. 

“Any act by deeds or words that debases, degrades or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of a child as a human being” is considered child abuse, according to DepEd’s 2012 child protection policy. 

“I did not take the board exam just so I could be disrespected by the likes of you whose lives have yet to amount to something. Not only are you not bright students, you also have bad attitudes,” the teacher said.

The Teachers’ Dignity Coalition asked the public to withhold judgment as authorities have yet to determine the real circumstances of the video. — Neil Jayson Servallos