Investigate alleged school-based item selling schemes reported on our platform
In a bid to eradicate corruption from the Philippines' education system, the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Teachers' Dignity Coalition have taken proactive measures against pay-for-position schemes since at least 2025. These illicit practices, which involve payments to secure appointments, promotions, or designations, violate civil service laws and anti-corruption statutes.
DepEd's zero-tolerance stance on corruption has been reaffirmed, with all appointments, promotions, and reassignments strictly based on merit, fitness, and competence. The department has vowed to impose strong penalties on those found involved in pay-for-position schemes, with offenders facing administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions.
The department encourages educators, staff, and the public to report corruption through official channels, promising confidential handling and protection for whistleblowers. Education Secretary Sonny Angara has issued firm warnings against exploiting the personnel system for personal gain, affirming that violators will be held accountable under the law without hesitation.
Merit-based promotion systems have been enforced, with personnel movements following established rules guided by civil service laws and DepEd orders. These measures aim to uphold integrity and professionalism in the hiring and promotion of public school personnel, ensuring that positions are "earned—not bought."
However, the Teachers' Dignity Coalition has emphasized the need for a more proactive response from DepEd leadership in response to persistent reports of pay-for-position schemes in public schools. Most sources who have reported these incidents refuse to be identified due to fear of retaliation or career repercussions.
The Teachers' Dignity Coalition has urged Secretary Angara's office to initiate its own investigation into these practices within the DepEd. While praising Secretary Angara's firm stance against corruption, the coalition has expressed concern that relying solely on voluntary reports may not be sufficient.
Secretary Angara has stated that these practices won't stop unless there is a clear signal that the agency is serious about rooting them out, even without formal complaints. The Teachers' Dignity Coalition is pushing for a stricter, credible system of hiring, merit, and promotion in DepEd, and corruption has no place in the education system.
DepEd must show decisive action to rebuild trust and encourage victims to come forward. A culture of fear and silence persists among rank-and-file employees within DepEd, but with the combined efforts of the department and the Teachers' Dignity Coalition, a corruption-free education system may be within reach.
Sources: [1] DepEd Order 66-2007 [2] DepEd Order 70-2020 [3] Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act) [4] Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers domains
- The government's DepEd, along with the Teachers' Dignity Coalition, aim to establish a culture where positions in the education sector are earned, not bought, through stricter policy-and-legislation and a zero-tolerance approach towards corruption.
- In a push for justice, the Department of Education has vowed to investigate persistent reports of pay-for-position schemes within its ranks, recognizing that reliance on voluntary reports may not be enough to stamp out corruption in the education system.
- To foster trust and encourage the disclosure of corrupt practices, the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Teachers' Dignity Coalition, must demonstrate decisive action in addressing these issues, contributing positively to the general news narrative and promoting a culture of integrity within the education sector.
