January 20, 2022 – The Department of Education reiterates that the government policy of requiring employees who work on-site, including teaching and non-teaching personnel involved in face-to-face classes and in-school activities, to be vaccinated is being implemented as a way of preventing the spread of COVID-19 in schools and DepEd offices to protect learners, clients, and employees to the extent possible.

This policy, particularly the requirement for teachers, with non-teaching personnel, handling face-to-face classes and performing in-school functions/tasks to be vaccinated, has been approved by the Office of the President.   This is also in line with the Inter Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) Resolution Nos. 148B and 149 s. 2021, on the requirement for vaccination or negative RT-PCR result or antigen test result (if RT-PCR capacity is insufficient) for employees working on-site, in areas that have sufficient supply of vaccines as determined by the National Vaccines Operation Center.

The said policy does not and is not intended to unjustly discriminate against any DepEd employee who chooses not to be vaccinated. A DepEd employee who is not vaccinated is treated fairly as he/she remains obliged to render work and receive compensation based on applicable alternative work arrangements, and his/her work is not terminated on the sole ground of being unvaccinated, consistent with the above IATF Resolutions as well as Civil Service rules and regulations.

The DepEd, consistent with national and international laws, respects the rights of every person, while recognizing the duty of the State to promote public health and general welfare, which includes protection of the equal right of everyone to safety and health. 

Let it be assured that the DepEd, in the performance of its mandate to ensure access to, promote equity in, and improve the quality of basic education, puts in priority the best interest of the learners, as well as the welfare of its employees.

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