Civic and Ethical Principles Education EO 217

Article XIII, Section 5 of the Constitution directs that all schools aim to develop moral character, personal discipline, civic conscience, and teach the duties of citizenship.
Executive Order No. 217 is issued to comply with Article XIII, Section 5 through civic and ethical instruction.
The order directs schools to teach a set of civic and ethical principles while a Code of Citizenship and Ethics is pending formulation and adoption.
The order emphasizes that education must produce moral character, discipline, civic conscience, and citizenship duties.

The Secretary of Public Instruction must require all schools to teach the specified civic and ethical principles.
All schools in the Philippines are covered by the requirement to teach the listed principles.
The order directs school compliance immediately to satisfy the constitutional educational mandate.

Schools must teach the following civic and ethical principles:
Schools must teach faith in Divine Providence that guides the destinies of men and nations.
Schools must teach love of country, including that defense of the country is a primary duty, and students should be ready at all times to sacrifice and die for the country if necessary.
Schools must teach respect for the Constitution as the expression of sovereign will, and the rule that the government is your government established for safety and welfare; students must obey laws and ensure that public officials comply with their duties.

Schools must teach students to pay taxes willingly and promptly, recognizing that citizenship implies rights and obligations.
Schools must teach students to safeguard the purity of suffrage and abide by the decisions of the majority.
Schools must teach love and respect for parents as a duty to serve them gratefully and well.
Schools must teach value of honor as the value of life, and that poverty with honor is preferable to wealth with dishonor.
Schools must teach truthfulness and honesty in thought and action, and to be just and charitable, courteous but dignified in dealings with fellow men.

Schools must teach students to lead a clean and frugal life, not indulge in frivolity or pretense, and be simple in dress and modest in behavior.
Schools must teach students to live up to noble traditions, venerate the memory of heroes, and recognize that heroes’ lives point the way to duty and honor.
Schools must teach industriousness and that students should not be afraid or ashamed to do manual labor, because productive toil supports economic security and adds to national wealth.
Schools must teach reliance on one’s own efforts for progress and happiness, not being easily discouraged, and persevering in the pursuit of legitimate ambitions.

Schools must teach that students should do their work cheerfully, thoroughly, and well, because work badly done is worse than work undone.
Schools must teach the rule against delay by requiring students to not leave for tomorrow what you can do today.
Schools must teach that students must contribute to community welfare and promote social justice, recognizing that people do not live for themselves and their families alone.
Schools must teach that students are part of society with definite responsibilities.

Schools must teach students to cultivate the habit of using goods made in the Philippines, including patronizing products and trades of countrymen.
Schools must teach students to use and develop natural resources and conserve them for posterity as an inalienable heritage.
Schools must teach a prohibition against trafficking with your citizenship.

The Secretary of Public Instruction is required to require all schools to teach the listed civic and ethical principles.
The order frames the teaching requirement as a direct step to carry out the constitutional educational mandate pending the adoption of a formal Code of Citizenship and Ethics formulated by a committee representing various elements of the community.