The Department of Education is calling on the Commission on Elections to keep politics off of school grounds. (Photo by CHARI VILLEGAS)

Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Jesli Lapus urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to disqualify all local and national candidates who will violate the election guidelines.

This came after DepEd received numerous complaints against the continuous posting of candidates’ campaign materials on public school properties.

Lapus reiterated his appeal not to use school properties in campaigns. “I appeal to all politicians to spare the schools from any political propaganda and pressure,” Lapus said.

Earlier, Lapus had appealed to candidates and their supporters to lay off school properties as Comelec Resolution No. 8758, Sec. 21 specified that “the posting of campaign materials in public places outside of the designated common poster areas such as streets, bridges, public structures or buildings, trees, electric posts or wires, schools, shrines, main thoroughfares and the like is prohibited.”

The Comelec reminded all candidates running in the May 10 elections to remove all illegal campaign materials even before the start of the official campaign period. The order was based on an en banc resolution which said that printed materials and advertisements showing the picture, image or name of a candidate made or done in violation of election laws prior to the campaign period must be removed.

“Our poor principals are even pressured by politicians. We have a DepEd order that bans election materials on school properties,” Lapus added.

Clean schools, clean elections

DepEd Order No. 10 or the “Clean Schools, Clean Elections Programs” bans all election materials in public schools and is aimed at protecting the schools from the pressures of politics. The said order is in effect during the entire election campaign period, from Feb. 9 until the final outcome of the elections at the national and local levels.

Moreover, even before the official start of the campaign period, the department
has already been receiving complaints from principals, parents, media and concerned citizens about tarpaulins and posters that mar school premises.

“The 2010 National Election merits the highest degree of national discipline. These guidelines must be observed so as not to compromise the integrity of this political exercise,” Lapus stressed.

Comelec has also defined common poster areas for candidates’ campaign materials.

Based on the new DepEd Order:

Election related activities such as political rallies and public meetings using school premises must not be scheduled during school days while classes are going on.

Organizers of any election-related activity must first secure the necessary permit from proper authorities and must follow local ordinances on the issuance of permits.

Organizers shall be responsible in ensuring the cleanliness of the school grounds after the activity.

Election related preparatory meetings and seminars for teachers and other personnel involved in the conduct of the elections shall be so scheduled to avoid any disruption in classes and held in an appropriate venue within the school.

No campaign materials (posters, tarpaulins, billboards and the like) are allowed to be posted or hung within the school premises, including grounds in front of the schools and the areas around it (walls, fence, sidewalk).

School heads shall immediately remove illegally posted campaign materials within their school premises.

To preserve the non-partisan nature of DepEd, school personnel should not be involved in distributing campaign materials particularly within school premises. Distribution of campaign materials by representatives of political parties or candidates must be undertaken only outside the school premises.

“The only election materials to be allowed to be posted or distributed within the school premises are those specifically authorized under election laws and only for the period prescribed,” the order emphasized.