05/10/2025
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ || ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ง๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐๐๐ญ๐๐
A title gained without integrity is not a mark of a true teacher.
Teachers are expected to be role modelsโupholding integrity, discipline, and professionalism. They must live by the ethical standards of their calling and avoid misconducts that undermine trust. As the Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers reminds us, every teacher shall ensure that teaching is the noblest profession (Article IV, Section 1) and must maintain a dignified personality worthy of emulation by learners, peers, and the public (Article XI, Section 3).
But the duty of teachers goes far beyond the classroom. They are mentors, facilitators, and moral exemplars whose actions shape both students and society. Integrity is at the heart of this role: being honest, fair, and setting an example that builds trust. As C.S. Lewis wrote, โIntegrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching.โ For educators, standing firm on principle is not optionalโit is essential.
Yet, just as World Teachersโ Day approached, reports surfaced of an incident that shook the profession. On September 21, 2025, authorities in Davao City arrested a contracted room watcher for the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) after he was allegedly caught taking photos of official test questionnaires. Investigators suspect the images were intended for a review center in exchange for โฑ10,000. The individual, however, denied the allegation, insisting the photos were for โpersonal consumption.โ Still, the controversy has cast a shadow over this yearโs celebration. Instead of focusing on dedication and sacrifice, the incident unsettled public trust in the honesty, ethics, and accountability of the profession.
If proven in court, such acts would constitute a grave violation of the Code of Ethics, particularly Article IV, Section 5, which forbids turning the profession into a vehicle for corruption, bribery, or dishonesty. Under provisions of the PRC Modernization Act of 2000 (Republic Act 8981), as amended, and the Anti-Cheating Law (Republic Act 9416), penalties may include six to twelve years of imprisonment, fines ranging from โฑ50,000 to โฑ100,000, and disqualification from taking or supervising government examinations.
At its core, this case exposes an ethical breach. A teacher, entrusted with safeguarding fairness, is duty-bound to upholdโnot destabilizeโit. Such betrayal damages not only the credibility of the examinations but also the publicโs confidence in the teaching profession. For thousands of aspiring teachers who labored honestly, the incident is demoralizing, raising doubts about whether results truly reflect merit or manipulation.
The timing of this controversy is undeniably ironic. World Teachersโ Day is meant to honor educatorsโ invaluable service, yet this incident forces us to confront the standards we demand of them. Teachers are celebrated not just for their knowledge, but for embodying honesty, fairness, and responsibility. When even one falters, the professionโs reputation suffers.
At the same time, the scandal points out systemic struggles teachers faceโlow pay, economic hardship, and the high stakes of licensure exams. These realities create temptations, though they can never excuse dishonesty. Rather, they highlight the need to strengthen teacher support systems through fair compensation, professional development, and ethical formation. To celebrate teachers is also to ensure their dignity and commitment are protected.
Still, it is important to stress that such cases do not define the entire teaching community. For every act of misconduct, countless teachers embody passion and sacrificeโwalking kilometers to reach remote schools, spending their own money for learning materials, and mentoring beyond school hours. These are the true faces of teaching, and these are the examples World Teachersโ Day should honor.
This occasion, then, is more than a celebrationโit is a call to recommit to the values that define the profession: integrity, fairness, and responsibility. Becoming a licensed teacher is not just about passing an exam, but about proving a lifelong commitment to these values. This is a test that no one should be able to cheatโnot just to guarantee fairness, but to protect the trust that the entire system relies on.
In the end, a title earned without integrity will never be the mark of a true teacher. ยถ
Words by Jane Evelour Limbawan
Layout by Carl Saldy Manaog
