The Department of Education (DepEd) announced on Thursday its intention to revise uniform policies to be more inclusive and practical for both teaching and non-teaching staff. This move is part of a broader effort to enhance the educational system’s responsiveness to the needs of its personnel.
The newly formed DepEd Uniform Committee (DUC) is tasked with managing the selection, implementation, and monitoring of uniforms as outlined in DepEd Memorandum Order No. 04. Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “We want to foster a more inclusive, practical, and supportive approach to uniform policies. This not only reflects DepEd’s responsiveness to the needs of its personnel but also its commitment to strengthening the education system for the benefit of all stakeholders.”
The DUC is committed to ensuring that uniforms remain professional and suitable for various school environments across the country. To achieve this, the committee will include representatives from nine national organizations and associations representing both teachers and non-teaching staff. The committee will be chaired by the Undersecretary for Human Resource and Organizational Development, with the Assistant Secretary for Operations serving as the Vice-Chairperson.
DepEd has set a six-month timeline to draft and release new uniform guidelines for the upcoming School Years 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, adhering to the policies set by the Civil Service Commission (CSC). Until the new guidelines are finalized, all DepEd personnel must continue to follow the existing DepEd Memorandum Order 42 from 2022, which mandates the wearing of the prescribed DepEd uniform and office attire.