DepEd Memorandum OM-OURO 22-0030: Policies on Electioneering and Partisan Political Activities

Memorandum OM-OURO 22-0030 from the Department of Education reminds all DepEd personnel, schools, and learners of the existing rules on electioneering and partisan political activities. It was issued ahead of the May 9, 2022 National and Local Elections and signed by Atty. Revsee A. Escobedo, Undersecretary for Field Operations. The memorandum does not create new rules. It brings together earlier DepEd orders, memoranda, and a Department of Justice circular, and asks for their immediate dissemination and strict compliance.

On this page 6 sections

Key points

• DepEd officials, including third-level officials, and all teaching and non-teaching personnel must not engage, directly or indirectly, in electioneering or partisan political activity.
• Officials must not use their position to pressure the people they supervise to support a candidate or political party.
• Schools are neutral zones. Political consultative assemblies and meetings are not allowed inside public school premises, and DepEd employees may not accept invitations to take part in them.
• Classroom discussion of current national issues is encouraged, but school administrators should keep elementary and high school students out of partisan political activities during class hours.
• The Supreme Student Government (SSG) as a body may not join partisan political activities. Individual student members may take part as private persons, within reasonable limits.

Rules for DepEd personnel

DOJ Memorandum Circular No. 003 (November 17, 2021)

This Department of Justice circular carries a memorandum from the Executive Secretary titled “Reminder to Uphold the Principle of Political Neutrality in the Government Service at All Times.” It asks all public officials and employees to stay politically neutral, remain professional in their work, and make sure government programs are run in a nonpartisan way.

DepEd Order No. 048, s. 2018 (Prohibition on Electioneering and Partisan Political Activity)

This order applies Article IX-B, Section 2(b), paragraph 4 of the 1987 Constitution, which says that no officer or employee in the civil service shall engage, directly or indirectly, in any electioneering or partisan political campaign. Under it:

• All DepEd officials, teachers, and non-teaching staff are barred from electioneering and partisan political activity.
• Officials may not use their authority to influence staff under their supervision to back a candidate or party.

Rules on the use of schools

DepEd Memorandum No. 31, s. 2019

This memorandum, issued for the May 13, 2019 elections, lists activities that count as electioneering and partisan political activity during the campaign period. Its Section 7 states that political neutrality must be observed at all times and that schools are neutral zones. In practice:

• Invitations and requests for DepEd officials and employees to join political consultative assemblies and meetings are not allowed.
• Such events may not be held inside public school premises.

Rules for learners

DepEd Order No. 57, s. 2005 (Participation of Students in Partisan Political Activities)

• Section 3: academic discussion of current national issues is encouraged, as long as it stays within the classroom.
• Section 4: partisan political rallies are not a proper way to learn about issues objectively, and they expose elementary and high school students to unnecessary danger and risk.
• Section 5: school administrators are urged to keep students from joining partisan political activities during class hours, so classes are not disrupted.

DepEd Order No. 47, s. 2014 (Constitution and By-Laws of the Supreme Pupil Government and Supreme Student Government)

The SSG is not empowered to join partisan political activities. One of its duties is to offer safe, alternative activities where students can practice their social and civic responsibilities. SSG members still have the right to join such activities as individuals, subject to reasonable limits.

DepEd Memorandum No. 55, s. 2021 (Recommended Programs, Projects, and Activities of the Student Government for SY 2021-2022)

This memorandum describes recommended student government activities that support learners through psychosocial support, health and safety measures, and remediation and enhancement. Examples include student leadership formation, peer coaching, core values advocacies, and other programs that build social responsibility and a sense of community in a safe way.

What schools and offices need to do

• Share the memorandum and the issuances it cites with all personnel right away.
• Make sure teachers, staff, and officials stay politically neutral and do not campaign or pressure others.
• Keep school premises free of political assemblies and meetings.
• Guide learners and student governments toward safe civic activities instead of partisan events during class hours.

Frequently asked questions