MODULE 8

Academic Freedom in the Philippine

Philosophy of Education

Aspero, Angelica J. Cabuang, Mary Joydela Cruz, Jessica B.Hernandez, Sunshine C.

Module 8:

Academic Freedom in the Philippine Philosophy of Education

Introduction:

The provision of Article XIV, Section 1 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution

guarantees the protection and promotion of the right of all citizens to quality education at

all levels and the taking of appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.

Article XIV, Section 5 No.(2)

“Academic freedom shall be enjoyed in all institutions of higher learning”

Academic freedom in institutions of higher learning gives the institutions the right

to determine whom to admit and to set standards of admission.

What is Academic Freedom?

Academic Freedom is the belief that the freedom of inquiry by students and

faculty members is essential to the mission of the academy.

Academic communities are repeatedly targeted for repression due to their ability to

shape and control the flow of information.

When scholars attempt to teach or communicate ideas or facts that are

inconvenient to external political groups or to authorities, they may find themselves

targeted for public vilification, job loss, imprisonment, or even death.

2 Main Principles of Academics for Academic Freedom (AFAF)

1. that academics, both inside and outside the classroom, have unrestricted liberty

to question and test received wisdom and to put forward controversial and unpopular

opinions, whether or not these are deemed offensive, and

2. that academic institutions have no right to curb the exercise of this freedom by

members of their staff, or to use it as grounds for disciplinary action or dismissal.

The Supreme Court of the United States said that academic freedom means a

university can “determine for itself on academic grounds:

1. who may teach

2. what may be taught

3. how it should be taught, and

4. who may be admitted to study.”

University of the Philippines

teaching staff enjoy academic freedom;

no instructor in the University shall inculcate sectarian tenets in any of the

teachings

No instructor shall attempt to influence students at the University for or against

any particular church or religious sect or political party.

Academic freedom is the right of the teacher to…

teach the subject of his/her specialization according to his/her best lights

to hold, in other subjects , such ideas as he/she believes sincerely to be right; and

to express his opinions on public questions

Within this specific framework, the following principles are hereby declared:

The University of the Philippines shall not impose any limitation upon the

teacher’s freedom in the exposition of his own subject in the classroom or in

addresses and publications;

No teacher may claim as his/her right the privilege of discussing in his/her

classroom controversial topics that are not pertinent to the course of study that is

being pursued;

The University of the Philippines should not place any restraint upon the teacher’s

freedom in the choice of subjects for research and investigation undertaken on his

own initiative;

The University of the Philippines should recognize that the teacher, in speaking or

writing outside of the institution upon subjects beyond the scope of his own field

of study, is entitled to the same freedom and is subject to the same responsibilities

as attached to all other citizens but in added measure;

It is clearly understood that the University of the Philippines assumes no

responsibility for views expressed by members of its staff; and the faculty

members themselves should, when necessary make it clear that they are expressing

only their personal opinions;

If the conduct of a teacher in his classroom or elsewhere should give rise to doubts

concerning his fitness for his position, the question should in al l cases be

submitted first to a committee of the faculty, and in no case should any member of

the teaching staff be dismissed before the normal termination of his period of

appointment without full and open hearing before the Board of Regents, should he

desire it, and only upon sufficient notice.

Oftentimes, academic freedom is misunderstood.

Like what John Henry Newman in The Idea of a University, he said that “A

University, taken in its bare idea, has this object and this mission: it contemplates neither

moral impression nor mechanical production; it professes to exercise the mind neither in

art nor in duty; its function is intellectual culture.

It educated the intellect to reason well in all matters, to reach out towards truth,

and to grasp it.”

A University in Oxford discussed about academic freedom. They declared that the

faculty freedom within the law to question and test received wisdom and to put forward

new ideas … without placing themselves in jeopardy of losing their jobs privileges.

The UN Committee on Economics, Social and Cultural Rights said that in

individual academic freedom, members of the academic community individually or

collectively they are:

free to pursue

develop and transmit knowledge and ideas

through research

Teaching

study, discussion

documentation

production

Creation or writing

On institutional academic freedom, the UN Committee says: “the enjoyment of

academic freedom requires the autonomy of institutions of higher education. Autonomy

is that degree of self-governance necessary for effective decision-making by institutions

of higher education in relation to their academic work, standards, management and

related activities.