DepEd wants child protection committees vs bullying

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) has ordered all elementary and secondary schools to create Child Protection Committees (CPCs), following 11,448 incidents of bullying and 2,706 incidents of child abuse reported last school year.

DepEd regional information officer Michelle Catap-Lacson said the mandatory creation of CPCs in elementary and secondary schools is based on DepEd Order No. 40, which lays out its Child Protection Policy promulgated in 2012.

“The order requires all public and private elementary and secondary schools to create their own CPC. The CPC should ensure that cases and instances of abuse are monitored closely at school level,” she said.

“The committee will also assess the reports and complaints, and will conduct investigations expeditiously,” she added.

The DepEd also issued Memorandum No. 94, s. 2016 or the Promotion of Online Child Protection and Prevention of Cyberbullying.

“Under this memorandum, the DepEd partnered with Stairway Foundation Inc. (SFI) to ensure that learners are protected from cyberbullying and from other potential risks of using the internet,” Lacson said.

Dubbed as the Cybersafe Project, the partnership has launched the Cybersafe Online Lesson Plans for Grades Five and Six (Manual 1) and Junior High School (Manual 2).

These modules are designed to aid teachers in developing the students’ capacities to stay safe online by promoting positive online behavior and teaching students how to recognize and respond to cyberbullying.?The modules are uploaded on the DepEd Learning Resources Management and Development System portal and the Cybersafe Project portal at www.cybersafe.asia.

The DepEd also reiterated its stand against “corporal punishment or any kind of punishment imposed for an alleged or actual offense, which is carried out by a teacher, school administrator, an adult or any other child who has been given or has assumed authority or responsibility for punishment or discipline.” ?

DepEd is holding a nationwide information campaign to mobilize and educate students, parents, teachers, the community, local government units and other stakeholders in addressing child abuse, exploitation, violence, discrimination, bullying and other forms of abuse. ?

DepEd, in cooperation with E-Net Philippines and Save the Children, launched the Primer on Positive Discipline for Everyday Teaching to help teachers apply a positive approach in classroom management.

“Children must be protected from all forms of abuse and violence, and schools must provide an environment that is safe, free from fear and conducive to learning,” Lacson said.