ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines – Over 200 teachers and school administrators in Iloilo have come together to express their intention in upholding morality in educating school children amid allegations of massive cheating in the 2010 National Achievement Tests (NAT).

“We denounce the defamatory attacks hurled against humble efforts in making every Ilonggo child emotionally intelligent, morally upright, and capable of contributing their potentials to nation-building,” said a manifesto drawn by a group of educators with the Department of Education (DepEd) – Division of Iloilo.

The educators disclosed that their reputation has been “besmirched by baseless and malicious accusations” by Dr. Gracia Malazarte, principal of the Lico-an Elementary School in the town of Barotac Nuevo town, this province. Malazarte had earlier accused the whole school district in Barotac Nuevo of having resorted to cheating, alleging that room examiners were invited by teachers to have a snack outside the classrooms so that they can hand over cheat papers to their students.

As a result, DepEd-Division of Iloilo ranked number one for Region 6 in the 2010 NAT for 3rd and 6th grade pupils while ranking third on the national level.

According to the educators, not only did Malazarte put them on trial by publicity, but also embarrassed “students who value so much their own hard work.”

Iloilo National High School principal Nordy Siason Jr. stressed that educators have the responsibility of producing responsible and morally upright students.

“We are producing human beings, not monsters,” Siason said.

“Our students may attempt to cheat. At times, we may not be able to stop it. But we have always taught them that cheating is bad,” Siason added.

Siason urged upholding values education and strengthening the integrity of values formation among students and teachers.