BESTLINK COLLEGE OF THE PHILIPPINES

Part IV. Code of Discipline

The code of discipline is intended as guide for students on how conduct themselves while inside the
campus and classroom. It constitutes rules on the aspects of student's life, which are discussed in the
following selections or topics.

Section 1. Right and Duties of the Students

In addition to other rights mentioned in the preceding parts and section of this manual the following are
the rights of the students:

1.1 To receive quality education, through competent instruction, in line with national goals and conducive
to their full development as persons with human dignity.

1.2 To freely choose their field of study subject to existing curricular requirements and to continue their
course therein up to graduation, except in cases of academic deficiency, or violation of disciplinary
regulations.

1.3 To avail themselves of school guidance and counseling services for making decisions and selecting the
alternatives in fields of work suited to his potentialities.

1.4 To access his own school records, the confidentiality of which the school shall maintain and preserve.

1.5 To be assured of official certificates diplomas, transcript of records, grades, transfer credentials and
other similar documents within thirty days from request.

1.6 To publish a student newspaper and similar publications, as well as the right to invite resource person
during assemblies, symposia and other activities of similar nature.

1.7 To form, establish, join and participate in organizations and societies recognized by the school and
recommended by the dean to foster intellectual, cultural, spiritual and physical growth and development,
or establish, join and maintain organizations and societies for purposes not contrary to BCP rules and
regulations.

1.8 To participate actively in civic affairs and in the promotion of general welfare, particularly in the social,
economic and cultural development of his community and in the attainment of a just compassionate and
orderly society.

1.9 To exercise his rights responsibly in the knowledge that he is answerable for any infringement or
violation of the public welfare and of the rights of others.

1.10 To participate actively in the promotion of the marketing strategy particularly in the career orientation
services in the different public and private schools.

Section 2. Norms of Behavior/Code of Conduct

A student is expected to act in accordance with the accepted norms of behavior inside the campus as well
as inside the classroom. Likewise, students are expected to abide by the rules and regulations of the
school. Violation of any rule could either result in a major or minor offense. A minor offense results in a
suspension from 1 to 3 days, dismissal or an expulsion order.

2.1 Every student must contribute to the best of his ability in the maintenance of a clean surrounding.
Proper manner and speech must be observed at all times.

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2.2 Students are required to be in the cafeteria during break time and observe the "SELF SERVICE" policy
and "CLEAN AS YOU GO".

2.3 Courtesy and respect should prevail in dealing and communicating with faculty members,
administrative officials, security, maintenance and fellow students. The use of polite language, bowing and
cheerful greetings (Magandang Buhay).

2.4 Silence in corridors, in using the stairs, in leaving the class and in taking examination should be strictly
observed. Stamping of feet, howling, shouting and boisterous laughter should be avoided.

2.5 The assigned cleaners are in-charge to clean their respective room every end of the class. Likewise
Class mayors/Class president is in-charge to monitor the cleanliness and maintenance of the room.

2.6 Public display of affection (PDA) is strictly prohibited.

2.7 Smoking is not allowed inside and outside the campus within 50 meters.

2.8 Forming a fraternity and sorority is not allowed. Likewise federation, organization, and other group
formation without the approval of the OSA is prohibited.

2.9 Attendance is a student's responsibility to attend all his classes. A student who has incurred absences
of more than 20% of the prescribed number of class and laboratory hours in a given subject shall be
dropped from the class roll.

2.10 The classroom is a place for study, orderliness, proper behavior, and speech must be observed. No
other activity is allowed unless permitted by the Dean/Activities Coordinator.

2.10.1 No student is allowed to go out of the classroom in between periods. Personal necessities
are to be done during break time. A student who lives the classroom without permission from the
instructor is considered absent.

2.10.2 A student may be sent out of the classroom for any act which the instructor considers as a
violation of classroom discipline. In which case, the student must be directed to go straight to the
Office of Prefect of Discipline who will investigate the incident and take the appropriate action and
give an admission slip to the student to be re- admitted by the teacher who sent him out.

2.10.3 Each student must be equipped with his/her own class materials so that borrowing or
asking of materials from others will be avoided.

2.10.4 Accidental damage or loss of any school equipment, materials or property will be paid by
the one responsible or may be paid by the whole class or an individual student.

2.10.5 Eating is not allowed in the classroom.

2.10.6 Silence and order shall be maintained at all times especially in entering and leaving the
classroom during class hours whether the teacher is present or absent.

2.10.7 Maintain cleanliness inside the classroom and along the corridor.

2.10.8 During class hours, student must be attentive and cooperative and must refrain from doing
things not connected with the lesson or perform any activity that may distract the whole class.

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2.10.9 Cellular phones and musical gadgets must be turned off while inside the classrooms,
laboratories and library.

Section 3. Appearance Code

3.1 Students must wear complete uniform with ID's during regular classes. Likewise, washday cloth/shirt
can be worn on weekends, practices, payments of fees or any activities needed in the school.

Uniform Schedule:

Grade 11
For Boys Short’s Sleeve - All Week
For Girls Short’s Sleeve - Monday/Tuesday
Long’s Sleeve - Wednesday/Thursday
Short’s Sleeve - Friday/Saturday

Grade 12
For Boys Corporate Sleeve - Monday/Tuesday
Short’s Sleeve -Wednesday/Saturday
For Girls Corporate Sleeve/Long Sleeve - Monday/Tuesday
Long’s Sleeve - Wednesday/Thursday
Short’s Sleeve - Friday/Saturday

Wash day Shirt

To be worn on the following days:

• Practices for school activities

• Paying for financial obligations
• School Activities

(Note: Said short should be paired either with maong or any long pants but not ripped or tattered jeans.)

Subject Uniform

• P.E uniform during P.E classes only and as per advice for school activities.
• Special uniform (bartending, housekeeping, cooking and other laboratory uniform) during the
mentioned classes

3.2 Female students are required to wear black shoes with a minimum of 2 inches heels, and
leather/leatherette/charcoal black shoes for male. White rubber shoes should be worn for PE subjects
only.

3.3 Wearing of faded ragged or tattered uniforms or school patches is unacceptable.

3.4 Wearing slippers, hanging/tube, midriff/sleeveless, blouses, miniskirts and shorts, backless/strapless
attire and other indecent or inappropriate attire is prohibited in the campus.

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3.5 Highlights and loud Colored hair are prohibited, likewise light hair dye is allowed. However, long hair
and mustache for male students not allowed unless needed in the nature of his work.

3.6 Female senior high school students with long hair are required to tie (ponytail their hair). The
prescribed haircut for male is 2 by 3 inches. Funky hair style is not allowed.

3.7 Wearing of earrings for male students is prohibited.

Section 4. Offenses

Offenses are violations of any of the rule/regulations governing student's conduct and discipline as
provided for in the Student's Handbook.

4.1 CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENSES

4.1.1 Minor Offenses

Those offenses not included in the foregoing violations shall be considered as minor ones which
merit suspension, warning/reprimand, disciplinary probation and/or fine to be fixed by the school.
However, violation of any of the minor offenses enumerated below for two (2) consecutive times shall be
penalized with sanction as provided under the major offenses.

4.1.1.1 Not wearing of School ID Card

4.1.1.2 Eating inside the classroom, chewing bubble gums, etc.

4.1.1.3 Loitering near the gate, staying or sitting near fire escapes, and the like; or any act that may
hamper or block flow of human traffic.

4.1.1.4 Public Display of Affection

4.1.1.5 Posting of banners, notice, without prior approval from the concerned head of the
department.

4.1.1.6 Spitting on the floor, corridors, stairways, or any acts which may result to the unsanitary,
dirty or disorderly condition of the campus.

4.1.1.7 Improper haircut, dyeing of hair (male), wearing of earrings, bull cap, wristband, and funk
attire.

4.1.1.8 Entering the faculty restroom, lounges, comfort rooms, without prior consent from
authority.

4.1.1.9 Male student entering the comfort rooms for females or vice versa.

4.1.1.10 Unhygienic and Improper use of college facilities.

4.1.1.11 Bringing in of pointed objects.

4.1.1.12 Refusal to submit one's self and belongings for lawful inspection and/or search.

4.1.1.13 Using the dirty finger sign or very lewd gestures to provoke another person.

4.1.1.14 Charging of cellphones, laptops and other gadgets inside the classrooms and hall ways.

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4.1.2 Major Offenses

Those that immediately call for a meeting with the parents. Temporary holding of a student while awaiting
for the arrival of his parent or guardian may be imposed without any prior warning.

4.1.2.1 Unauthorized bringing out of chairs, tables, books, and other school facilities/equipment.

4.1.2.2 Smoking within the campus.

4.1.2.3 Excessive public display of affection e.g. kissing, hugging, necking, petting and the like.

4.1.2.4 Possession, and distribution or perusal of pornographic magazines, pictures, films,

cartridges, cards, key chains, figurines, and the like.

4.1.2.5 Vandalism or destruction of school property belonging to any member of faculty.

administration or non-teaching staff.

4.1.2.6 Entering or being in the school premises under the influence of liquor or prohibited drugs.

4.1.2.7 Unauthorized operation of the school equipment including electrical switches

4.1.2.8 Acts of disrespect in words or in deed committed against any administrator, faculty
member, co academic personnel, security guard. maintenance personnel, student and visitor.

4.1.2.9 Illegal intrusion in the classroom and/or offices

4.1.2.10 Committing act of bullying.

4.1.2.11 Creating malicious information (e.g., bomb threats, gossiping, misrepresentation,

slanderous and libelous utterances)

4.1.2.12 Unauthorized use of funds of any organization/clubs for his/her personal interest.

4.1.2.13 Acts of cheatings

4.1.2.13.1 Actual use of cheating paraphernalia during the quizzes and periodic examinations.

4.1.2.13.2 Having someone else take the prelims, midterm, and final examination for another.

4.1.2.13.3 Exchanging examination notebooks, booklets, or passing one's notebook to another to

enable the latter to copy it.

4.1.2.13.4 Reading or looking deliberately at another student's examination paper or showing

one's paper/notebook/ booklet to another.

4.1.2.13.5 Dictating examinations. answer during

4.1.2.14 Creating or joining unauthorized group through social media.

4.1.3 Grave Offenses

These are offenses which are so severe the proper penalty for which is exclusion or expulsion.

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4.1.3.1 Possession, use or sale of prohibited drugs or chemicals and hallucinogenic drugs or
substances I any form within the school premises, or the possession of any regulated drug without
the proper prescription.

4.1.3.2 Theft pilferage of school equipment, materials or supplies, extortion, robbery or an

attempt thereof and any form of dishonesty.

4.1.3.3 Forgery or falsification and/or alteration of academic or official records or documents of

any kind.

4.1.3.4 Willful disregard of authority, disrespect, discourtesy and disobedience to any school
official, member of the faculty, administration or their representative.

4.1.3.5 Direct assault upon a person of authority or any school official, faculty member, non-
academic staff or any personnel of the school community.

4.1.3.6 Having been convicted of a crime and/or moral turpitude in any court of justice.

4.1.3.7 Committing any act punishable under existing law of the land within and outside the
campus and violation of the laws of the Commission on Higher Education.

4.1.3.8 Tampering/altering such as changing original photos of ID cards, registration cards, and
other school forms.

4.1.3.9 Allowing other students or individuals to use their school ID for any purpose.

4.1.3.10 Using the name and seal of BESTLINK on printed matters such as program, invitation,
announcement, tickets, certification, solicitation etc., without permission from school president
or her official representatives.

4.1.3.11 Exposing/destroying the image of the school that hampers its integrity in the different
broadcasting network and other social media platform.

4.1.3.12 Posting inappropriate photos, videos messages. or

4.1.3.13 Bullying, harassing, defaming or discriminating against fellow students, faculty,

administrators, employees or any other person in social media platforms.

4.1.3.14 Discussing, ventilating, or uploading grievances, concerns or issues in social networking

platforms.

4.1.3.15 Exploding of firecrackers, pyrotechnics, pillbox bomb, Molotov bomb, and others.

4.1.3.16 Carrying deadly weapon and/or dangerous weapon including improvised weapon,
explosive and incendiaries inside the campus.

4.1.3.17 Unauthorized use, opening and/or reading or browsing of computer program, files and
the like.

4.1.3.18 Forced recruitment to fraternities, hazing and other similar act (RA 8049).

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4.1.3.19 Unauthorized bringing of outsiders inside the classroom, laboratory or office that
destroys properties and/or distracts classroom instruction.

4.1.3.20 Provoking offensive action that leads to violence.

4.1.3.21 Holding of rallies, meetings, activities or programs without necessary permit from the
school authorities.

4.1.3.22 Unauthorized copying of computer programs, files and others.

4.1.3.23 Uttering/expressing profane language. or indecent

4.1.3.24 Gambling or playing cards and any misdemeanor/ misbehavior within 100 meters away
from the school

4.1.3.25 Unauthorized selling of tickets/solicitation.

Section 5. Enforcement of Sanctions

Article14, Section 77 Manual of Regulations for Private Schools, 1992, 8th edition, Annotated, describes
the three (3) categories of disciplinary administrative sanctions which may be imposed on erring students
commensurate with the nature and gravity of the violation of school rules and regulation.

SUSPENSION

The school is allowed to deny or deprive an earring student for attending his classes during the school year
or term for a maximum period not exceeding 20% of the prescribed school days. Suspension of more than
20% of the prescribed school days that will involved the loss of entire year or term shall not be imposed
unless approved by the President.

A. Preventive suspension- may be imposed on a student against whom a written complaint has been filed
pending investigation of the case.

A student under investigation for a case where the appropriate penalty of expulsion or exclusion may be
immediately prevented from entering the school premises if the evidence of guilt is strong and the School
Administration is morally convinced that the continued stay of the student during the period of
investigation would constitute a distraction of the normal operations of school or poses a risk or danger
to the life of persons or property in school.

B. Punitive Suspension- refers to the school's preventing a student in attending his class and thus from
taking any examination, quiz and graded recitation given during the specific period. Since he is not excused
from these graded works, he shall be given a failing mark for not having taken them; nor will be given
special examinations to make up for them.

Once the student under preventive suspension is found guilty of the charges, punitive suspension may
then be imposed upon him, in which case the period he/she had previously served shall be considered
part of the penalty. However, if he is absolved of the charges, though he is not entitled to make up for the
days lost, he shall be allowed to take examinations, quizzes and graded recitations that he/she missed.

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A student who has served his/her suspension is expected to report to his/her classes regularly. On the
other hand, the Discipline Officer should refer said student to the Guidance Counselor for follow-up and
counseling preferably with the parents or the guardian.

EXCLUSION/DISMISSAL

This is a penalty in which the school is allowed to exclude or drop the name of the student from school
enrolment list for being undesirable, or dismiss the student during the semester by not allowing her/him
from finishing the term. An investigation must be conducted where due process should be observed.

Upon exclusion, the school should immediately issue the transfer credentials to the erring student. The
decision of the school involving penalty of exclusion from the school, enrollment list together with all the
pertinent papers, shall be filed in the prefect of discipline/guidance office for a period of one (1) year.

EXPULSION

Expulsion is an extreme penalty on an earring student consisting of his non-admission to any public or
private in the Philippines which requires the prior approval of the TESDA/Commission on Higher Education
(CHED) for tertiary courses and the DepEd for Senior High School.

It is considered as punishment for offenses constituting gross misconduct, for, among others, dishonesty,
hazing, carrying deadly weapon, immorality, using marijuana, drug dependency, drunkenness, vandalism,
and other serious school offenses such assaulting a student/faculty members of any school authority or
his agent, investigating or leading illegal strikes or similar concerted activities resulting in disruption of
classes and barricading the school entrance, threatening or preventing any student or faculty member in
entering the school.

The decision on expulsion together with the other supporting documents shall be forwarded
CHED/TESDA/DepEd Regional Office within ten (10) days from the termination of such investigation. 10

Student convicted with expulsion shall be dropped from the roll of the students from the date of decision
against them.

SANCTIONS FOR MINOR OFFENSES

1. Verbal or written reprimand by the Prefect of Discipline after investigation.

2. Disciplinary probation for new students or transferees

SANCTIONS FOR MAJOR OFFENSES

1. Probation with automatic suspension for the rest of the semester.

2. Suspension for a minimum period of three (3) days and a maximum of fifteen (15) days.
3. Suspension for one (1) semester.
4. Suspension for one (1) school year.

SANCTIONS FOR GRAVE OFFENSES

1. Exclusion or Dismissal
2. Expulsion

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Section 6. Disciplinary Procedure

6.1 Committee on Discipline

The Prefect of Discipline determines whether an infraction committed constitutes minor, major or grave
offense. He shall act as Presiding Officer and Chairman of the Student Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) which
has the authority to formally investigate complaints.

All complaints for violation of school rules and regulations are heard and investigated by Prefect of
Discipline. If the violation involves a serious and grave offense, the case will be referred to the Student
Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT). Based on its findings, a recommendation will be submitted to the President
regarding the action to be taken.

In cases where formally investigation is deemed necessary due process shall always be observed. There
should be written complaint from the aggrieved party and the one complained against must be allowed
to answer. Thereafter, a face-to-face confrontation should be had between the complainant and the
respondent, in the presence of their respective parents/guardian, together with their witnesses.

SDT Committee investigation, being in nature does not necessarily require for both the complainant and
the respondent Both parties however may request that they be assisted by counsel subject for the
approval of the committee.

In the event the student/respondent pleads guilty to the offense, the Prefect of Discipline shall impose the
appropriate penalty taking into consideration the plea of guilty of the accused as a mitigating circumstance
in lowering the penalty.

SDT Committee is composed of the following:

• Prefect of Discipline (Head/Chairman)-Presiding Officer

• Faculty (Representative)-Member
• Student Council (Representative)-Member
• Guidance Counselor

A student who files baseless and/or malicious complaint shall be deemed to have committed grave
offense, shall be subject to disciplinary action, as stated in the manual.

6.2 Grievance and Complaints Procedure

For a clear and orderly processing of complaints, the following procedure shall be followed:

6.2.1 Written complaint should be filed at the Office of the Prefect of Discipline who issues a written notice
to alleged the complaint filed After receipt of respondents' written answer, inform all SDT members about
the schedule of the investigation at least 3 days before.

6.2.2 The SDT will immediately conduct the investigation and thereafter prepare the report and
recommendation within 7 days after the conclusion of its investigation, and submit the same to the Office
of the President for its disposition.

6.3 Decision of the Committee

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The decision of the Committee shall be arrived by a majority vote of the permanent members; the
Chairperson shall vote only in the case of tie.

6.4 Decision of Higher Authority

The Office of the President shall send a copy of its decision to both parties, copy furnished the SDT
Committee.

6.5 Promulgation of the Committee's Decision

After the investigation, the Student Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) Chairman shall inform the parties that the
decision on the case will be due within a period of seven school days. A formal letter is given to the
parent/guardian to be duly received.

6.6 Limitations

Major offenses may be referred to the Student Disciplinary Tribunal (SDT) for deliberation. Light and other
offenses may be referred for resolution to the Deans/Program Head concerned.

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