DepEd reconstitutes teachers’ uniform committee

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education has ordered the revival of a committee that would select the appropriate dress code for teachers and non-teaching personnel amid opposition to the impending implementation of a Civil Service Commission (CSC) memo mandating the wearing of Filipiniana-inspired uniforms by government workers, including public school teachers.

In his DepEd Memorandum No. 004, s. 2025, dated Jan. 8, Education Secretary Sonny Angara ordered the reconstitution of the DepEd Uniform Committee (DUC), which used to operate during school years 2020-2021 and 2021-2022.

“With arising concerns relative to the DepEd uniform at the field offices and schools, changes in the DepEd administration and directives, and to comply with the newly released Civil Service Commission MC (Memorandum Circular) No. 16, s. 2024, there is a need to reconstitute the DUC,” the memorandum read.

The reconstituted DUC, which shall include representatives from nine national organizations and associations of teachers and non-teaching employees, shall be responsible for the selection, implementation and monitoring of DepEd uniforms for SYs 2024-2025 and 2025-2026.

The committee shall be chaired by the DepEd undersecretary for human resource and organizational development, with the assistant secretary for operations serving as vice-chairperson. Organizations are required to submit their permanent representatives to the committee by Jan. 17.

In a press statement, the DepEd said the committee’s primary goal is “to ensure that uniforms are professional and appropriate for the working conditions and environments in schools nationwide” but still responsive to the recently issued CSC memorandum which revises the dress code for government officials and employees.

The DepEd and other government agencies were earlier given six months to draft and release their internal guidelines that align with CSC’s updated policies.

Current uniforms stay for now

The DepEd said that until the new internal dress code guidelines are finalized by the DUC, teachers and field personnel shall continue wearing the current prescribed uniforms.

“Until the new internal dress code of DepEd is finalized, all