The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday said inclusivity and practicality must be incorporated into uniform policies for its teaching and non-teaching personnel.

The newly reconstituted DepEd Uniform Committee (DUC) will oversee the “selection, implementation, and monitoring” of uniforms under DepEd Memorandum Order No. 04.

“We want to foster a more inclusive, practical, and supportive approach to uniform policies. This initiative 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,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said in a statement.

The DUC also aims to ensure that uniforms will be “professional and appropriate” for teachers and non-teaching staff in various environments in all public schools nationwide.

To ensure proper representation, representatives from nine national organizations and associations of teachers and non-teaching employees will be included in the DUC, chaired by the Undersecretary for Human Resource and Organizational Development, with the Assistant Secretary for Operations as the Vice-Chairperson.

The DepEd, meanwhile, has six months to draft and release its uniform guidelines for School Year (SY) 2024-2025 and SY 2025-2026 following the policies of the Civil Service Commission (CSC).

While the new uniform guidelines are being finalized, all DepEd personnel are subject to the existing DepEd Memorandum Order 42 in 2022 or the “Wearing of the Prescribed DepEd Uniform and Office Attire.” (PNA)