CEBU, Philippines — A new uniform design for teaching and non-teaching personnel of the Department of Education has been released.
But Education Secretary Leonor Briones said that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers and the rest of the personnel can still use their old uniforms for the incoming school year.
“In consideration with the current crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the continuing implementation of the blended learning delivery and alternative working arrangements in the Department, SY 2021-2022 shall be considered a ‘transition period’ to allow ample time for employees to prepare and purchase new set of prescribed uniforms,” said Briones in a memorandum.
However, by SY 2022-2023, all teaching and non-teaching personnel are already expected to wear the prescribed new set of uniforms.
DepEd personnel have an annual clothing and uniform allowance of P6,000 each and shall be released to all eligible personnel by this month of the current year.
Briones emphasized that there should be uniformity in all offices, thus there should no longer be a regional and schools division uniforms.
Modification or adjustments on the prescribed uniforms though are allowed to conform with religious, social, and cultural requirements or any legitimate practices.
No specific fabric will be prescribed, for as long as the fabric used will follow the guidelines with the design set and materials can be obtained from any available source that comply with the standards set.
DepeEd has not endorsed, accredited or authorized a particular supplier to exclusively distribute textile materials.
Employees’ cooperatives or associations/organizations are encouraged to offer the prescribed DepEd uniform materials to their teaching or non-teaching personnel members subject to their consent in order to avail of a more reasonable/discounted price and facilitate uniformity of colors/material of uniform to be purchased.
Meanwhile, there are also personnel that are exempted from wearing the prescribed uniform, these include school officials who occupy third level positions in the career executive service (CES), medical and dental staff, janitors, utility and maintenance personnel, and legal officers.
Those with physical disabilities and other legitimate reasons including pregnant employees who shall be wearing maternity dresses during their period of pregnancy, and even those who are in mourning may wear the appropriate mourning clothes. — GMR (FREEMAN)