Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
REGION III – CENTRAL LUZON
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE OF NUEVA ECIJA
BONGABON, NUEVA ECIJA, 3128

Proposed Learners’ Discipline Manual

Background
Every school is required to preserve order when students are participating in
school-approved activities both within and outside the school's walls. The school's
atmosphere should be favorable to teaching and learning, and the school head has the
power, accountability, and responsibility for doing so. Teachers must be treated with
respect and protection because they are considered to be in positions of authority when
carrying out their legal responsibilities. Therefore, in the event of offenses or violations
of good discipline, the school shall implement suitable and acceptable disciplinary
measures.
To aid in the creation of the Learner’s Discipline Manual, the Rights and
Responsibilities, and Obligations of the Learners that are outlined in Batas Pambansa
Bilang 232 and DepEd Order No. 40, s. 2012 will be emphasized.

I. LEARNER’S/STUDENT’S RIGHTS, DUTIES AND OBLIGATIONS IN SCHOOL

A. According to Batas Pambansa Bilang 232

Section 9. Right of Students in School – In addition to other rights, and subject to the
limitation presented by law and regulations, and student and pupils in all schools shall
enjoy the following rights:
1. The right to receive, primarily through competent instruction, relevant
quality education in line with national goals and conducive to their full
development as a person with human dignity.
2. The right to school guidance and counseling services for decisions and
selecting the alternatives in fields of work suited to his potential.
3. The right of access to his own school records, the confidentiality of which
the school shall maintain and preserve.
4. The right to the issuance of official certificates, diplomas, transcript of
records, grades, transfer credentials and other similar documents within
thirty days from request.
5. The right to publish a student newspaper and similar publications, as well
as the right to invite resource persons during assemblies, symposia and
other activities of similar nature.
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION III – CENTRAL LUZON
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE OF NUEVA ECIJA
BONGABON, NUEVA ECIJA, 3128

6. The right to free expression of opinions and suggestions, and to effective

channels of communication with appropriate academic channels and
administrative bodies of the school or institution.
7. The right to form, establish, join and participate in organizations and
societies recognized by the school to foster their intellectual, cultural,
spiritual and physical growth and development, or to form, establish, join
and maintain organizations and societies for purposes not contrary to law.
8. The right to be free from involuntary contributions, except those approved
by their own organizations or societies.
Section 15. Duties and Responsibilities of Students – in addition to those provided
for under existing laws, every student shall:
1. Exert his utmost to develop his potential for service, particularly by
undergoing an education suited to his abilities, in order that he may
become an asset to his family and to society.
2. Uphold the academic integrity of the school, endeavor to achieve academic
excellence and abide by the rules and regulations governing his academic
responsibilities and moral integrity.
3. Promote and maintain the peace and tranquility of the school by observing
the rules and discipline, and by exerting efforts to attain harmonious
relationships with fellow students, the teaching and academic staff and
other school personnel.
4. Participate actively in civic affairs and in the promotion of the general
welfare, particularly in the social, economic and cultural development of his
community and in the attainment of a just, compassionate and orderly
society.
5. Exercise his rights responsibly in the knowledge that he is answerable for
any infringement or violation of the public welfare and of the rights of
others.

B. Based on DepEd Order No. 40, s. 2012

Section 9. Duties and Responsibilities of Pupils, Students and Learners

Pupils, students and learners shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

1. Comply with the school’s regulations, as long as they are in harmony with
their best interests. Pupils, students and learners shall refrain from:
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION III – CENTRAL LUZON
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE OF NUEVA ECIJA
BONGABON, NUEVA ECIJA, 3128

i. Engaging in discrimination, or leading a group of pupils or students to discriminate

another, with reference to one’s physical appearance, weaknesses and status of any
sort;
ii. Doing any act that is inappropriate or sexually provocative;
iii. Participating in behavior of other students that is illegal, unsafe or abusive;
iv. Marking or damaging school property, including books, in any way;
v. Engaging in fights or any aggressive behavior;
vi. Introducing into the school premises or otherwise possessing prohibited articles,
such as deadly weapons, drugs, alcohol, toxic and noxious substances, cigarettes and
pornographic material; and
vii. Performing other similar acts that cause damage or injury to another.
An allegation that any of these acts has been committed shall not be used to curtail the
child’s basic rights, or interpreted to defeat the objectives of this Department Order.

2. Conduct themselves in accordance with their levels of development,

maturity, and demonstrated capabilities, with a proper regard for the rights and
welfare of other persons;
3. Respect another person’s rights regardless of opinion, status, gender or
gender preferences (e.g. LGBTQ+) ethnicity, as well as everyone’s moral and
physical integrity;
4. Respect another person’s religious belief (e.g. Islam, Christianity,
Protestans and alike)
5. Observe the Code of Conduct for pupils, students and learners.

II. NON-DISCIPLINARY CASES

Attendance; Uniform & I.D.; Haircut

a. The following guidelines in attendance and punctuality as stated in the

Paragraph 1.2, Section 1, Chapter III, Part IV of 2000 DECS Service Manual shall
be observed.

i. Regularity of attendance and punctuality are required in all classes. A student who
has been absent or has cut classes is required to present a letter of explanation from
his/her parents or guardians or to bring them to school for a short conference with the
section adviser or guidance counselor as the case may be.

ii. Attendance of students in special holidays, activities relative to their religions shall be
allowed provided permission of the school head is sought.
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION III – CENTRAL LUZON
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE OF NUEVA ECIJA
BONGABON, NUEVA ECIJA, 3128

iii. Habitual tardiness especially during the first period in the morning and in the
afternoon shall not be allowed. Teachers concerned shall call for the parents of the
student concerned or visit him/her at home.

b. Pursuant to DepEd Order No. 45 s. 2008 and DepEd Order No. 46 s. 2008,
wearing of school uniform is not mandatory and DepEd Order (DO) No. 065, s.
2010:

To increase school participation of all school-aged children, it is important to remove

any and all obstacles, particularly financial, to their enrolment in public schools.
Accordingly, the President has ordered the following:

a. The wearing of a school uniform shall not be required in public schools. Students with
existing uniforms may continue using these uniforms, if they so desire, to avoid
incurring additional costs for new attire.
b. Identification (ID) cards shall be provided to students at no cost to them.
The school administration shall fund these from their MOOE.

While the general policy is that the wearing of a school uniform shall not be required in
public schools (as embodied in DepEd Order No. 45 s. 2008), it is necessary to provide
guidance on what constitutes proper school attire. The following principles should serve
as a guide:
i. A student’s basic right to go to school, study and learn is of paramount
importance and should be respected and promoted at all times.
ii. A student’s attire should reflect respect for the school as an institution for
learning.
iii. A student’s attire should not become a cause for discrimination particularly for
students belonging to a lower socio-economic status.
iv. Promoting physical hygiene and proper school decorum is part of the teaching-
learning process in schools, thus a student’s attire and physical appearance should
manifest learnings from this process.
Given the above principles, the suggested attire for elementary and secondary
students may be:
For Boys – Polo shirt/T-shirt with sleeves – any plain color, with a minimum of
prints
Pants (long or short) – any color
Footwear – any
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION III – CENTRAL LUZON
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE OF NUEVA ECIJA
BONGABON, NUEVA ECIJA, 3128

For Girls – Dress, skirt and blouse, blouse and pants – any color, any print
Footwear-any
For students with existing uniforms, they can still continue wearing them, if they
so desire.
Students are discouraged from wearing expensive (signature or designer brands) or
flashy clothes, tight-fitting pants/blouses/dresses, mini-skirts, short shorts, blouses with
plunging necklines, hip-hop pants for boys, and sleepwear.

A learner who violates the above guidelines is required to present a letter of explanation
from his/her parents or guardians or to bring them to school for a short conference with
the section adviser or guidance counselor as the case may be.

c. Suggested haircut for boys: at least 1 inch above the ear and 3 inches above
the collar line.

A learner who is not in proper haircut is required to present a letter of explanation from
his/her parents or guardians or to bring them to school for a short conference with the
section adviser or guidance counselor as the case may be.

III. DISCIPLINARY CASES

Considering the foregoing, the following are the infractions or violations of the learners
that may be subjected to interventions and penalties as warranted:

A. MINOR OFFENSES

1. Instigating, leading or participating in concerned activities leading to

stoppage of classes
2. Absenteeism, cutting of classes, and tardiness
3. Uttering (plastic cups, bottles, candy wrappers or any waste) inside the
school campus specially inside the classroom and corridors
4. Loitering and staying inside or outside the school campus during class
hour
5. Bringing in and using gadgets like cellular phones, i-pad, psp, etc. inside
the school campus (R.M. No. 207 s 2018) when the same is not required to
be used during classes including during examination where the incident
may be considered as less grave offense as the case may be
6. Unruly behavior inside the classroom or school premises, during
assemblies, school activities, Uttering profanities/swear words inside the
school campus
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION III – CENTRAL LUZON
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE OF NUEVA ECIJA
BONGABON, NUEVA ECIJA, 3128

7. Wearing of earrings (applicable only for male learners) and piercings

(both for male and female)
8. Going to an unauthorized offices within the vicinity of the school or any
prohibited
9. Tampering of school ID such as placing stickers and other objects on
school ID, or using other identification card other than his/her ID
10. Not giving letter to parents and letters of communication to the parents
and other correspondents

B. LESS GRAVE OFFENSES

1. Academic dishonesty and or cheating during examination or performance tasks
2. Uploading, downloading, posting and sharing of malicious words or acts or
videos and communication through social media and other means including the
spread of fake news or any unauthorized communication
3. Tampering of certificates and other documents
4. Smoking inside the school premises and bringing tobacco products, vapes, e-
cigarettes and others
5. Vandalism – writing on or destroying school property like chairs, tables, windows,
books, laboratory equipment and others
6. Extortion or asking money or in kind from others
7. Fighting ( less physical injury), causing injury to others
8. Forging or tampering with school records or transfer forms and or forging the
signature of the parents or other unauthorized signature by authority
9. Patronizing suspected prostitution den, gambling and pornographic places

C. GRAVE OFFENSES
1. Stealing ( including stealing of school properties, someone else identity )
2. Assaulting a teacher, or any other school authority or his agents, or other
learner/s
3. Gambling of any sort (e.g. kara, playing cards,and other bettings for
monetary and services to be rendered)
4. Drinking intoxicants and liquor or entering the school premises under the
influence of liquor, or bringing of alcoholic beverages
5. Carrying and concealing deadly weapons or instruments such as asero,
knives, lanseta, balisong, ice pick and alike
6. Fighting, causing injury to others (grave physical injury)
7. Hazing in any form or manner whether inside or outside the school
premises
8. Sexual abuse, immorality, illicit relationships
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION III – CENTRAL LUZON
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE OF NUEVA ECIJA
BONGABON, NUEVA ECIJA, 3128

9. Preventing, threatening learners or faculty members or school authorities

from discharging their duties or from attending classes or entering school
premises
10. Bringing, using and selling of pornographic materials including sharing of
pornographic materials
11. Drug dependency or drug use, possession, and sale of prohibited drugs
such as marijuana, ecstasy, shabu, etc. (it shall be subject to the
Guidelines prescribed by DO 40 s. 2012 entitled Guidelines for the
Conduct of Random Drug Testing in Public and Private Secondary
Schools, and RA 9165 and its IRR)
12. Joining fraternities, sororities, gangs and other unauthorized or illegal
organizations ;
13. Bullying acts – physical, emotional, mental and cyber-bullying (Bullying
cases or offenses shall be handled in accordance with Republic Act 10627
and DepEd Order No. 55, s. 2013)
14. Other analogous acts that may endanger/threaten any learner, school
personnel, or the school.

IV. PENALTIES AND PROHIBITED ACTS

A. The penalty shall be commensurate to the offense committed. The following are the
corresponding penalties that shall be given a learner:

i. Minor Offense
● 1st Offense – Verbal warning with adviser

● 2nd Offense – Reprimand with counseling with parent

● 3rd Offense – School/community service of any of the following:

a. 1 hour cleaning of a specified area within the school premises;
b. 1 hour gardening in the gulayan sa Paaralan;
c. attending a program/seminar/talk duly created/approved by the
Guidance and counseling or the discipline office
 Republic of the Philippines
Department of Education
REGION III – CENTRAL LUZON
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE OF NUEVA ECIJA
BONGABON, NUEVA ECIJA, 3128

d. Any analogous school or community service that is not

detrimental to the health and safety of the learner

ii. Less Grave Offense

● 1st Offense – Reprimand, payment, replacement and compensation with
parents, adviser, discipline officers and the school head
(If there are materials/equipments/properties within the school
premises that has been destroyed or a subject of the offense, it shall be
compensated and or replaced )

● 2nd Offense – School/community service of at least 2 of the following:

a. 1 hour cleaning of a specified area within the school premises;
b. 1 hour gardening in the gulayan sa Paaralan;
c. attending a program/seminar/talk duly created/approved by the
Guidance and counseling or the discipline office
d. Any analogous school or community service that is not
detrimental to the health and safety of the learner

● 3rd Offense – suspension of 4-6 days

Any confiscated materials or illegal subject of the offense,
may or may not be returned to the students

iii. Grave Offense

● 1st Offense – Suspension for seven (7) days

● 2nd Offense – Suspension for more than seven (7) days but not more
than one (1) year – refer to the SDS for approval

● 3rd Offense – Suspension for one (1) year or more – refer it to the
Secretary for approval

● 4th Offense – Expulsion – refer to the Secretary for approval