No school exempted from classroom decor ban, DepEd says

The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday stressed that no school would be exempted from the policy mandating posters and decorations be taken down on classroom walls and other facilities.

DepEd deputy spokesperson Assistant Secretary Francis Bringas, however, said in an ambush interview that they would not give a deadline for schools to comply with the order but pointed out that “it has to be soonest.”

“Wala siyang exemption ngayon [it has no exemption now]. It’s applicable to all grade levels—Kinder to Grade 12,” he said.

DepEd Order 21, signed by Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, states that schools “shall ensure that school grounds, classrooms and all its walls, and other school facilities are clean and free from unnecessary artwork, decorations, tarpaulin, and posters at all times.”

Likewise, oversized signages with commercial advertisements, words of sponsorships, and/or endorsement or announcements of any kind or nature should also be taken down.

“Classroom walls shall remain bare and devoid of posters, decorations or other posted materials. Classrooms should not be used to stockpile materials and should be clear of other unused items or items for disposal,” the Order read.

Murals

Bringas said that during his visit in the public schools located in the EMBO barangays, he noticed one school that still has murals painted on classroom walls.

“She [the principal] was advised really to comply with the requirement of DepEd Order 21 and sabi naman niya [she said that] they are already planning on doing that within the next few weeks,” he said.

“Sabi niya since nag-Brigada Eskwela, pinrioritize muna nila na i-repaint ‘yung outside ng classrooms, yung facade ng school, and naka-pipeline na sa kanila ‘yung ‘pag repaint ng kanilang mga walls sa loob ng classrooms para mawala ‘yung murals,” he added.

(She said that since the Brigada Eskwela started, they prioritized repainting the walls outside of the classrooms and the facade of the school. They have a pipeline to repaint their walls inside the classrooms to remove the murals.)

The DepEd earlier maintained that students would be able to focus on their lessons if there are less “distractions” like posters and decorations on classroom walls.

Bringas explained that the instructional or visual aids, which were typically posted on classroom walls, could only be brought out and be used by teachers during the time for instruction.

“Kaya ang directive ni Secretary gawing malinis lahat ng mga walls natin para makapag-focus ang mga bata sa kanilang mga lessons at hand at makapag-focus sila sa teachers na facilitators of learning inside the classroom,” Bringas said last week.

(That’s why the Secretary's directive is to make all our walls clean so that the children can focus on their lessons at hand and on their teachers who are facilitators of learning inside the classroom.) — RSJ, GMA Integrated News