DepEd wants pupils’ debriefing

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Education wants all the pupils who witnessed the tragic fistfight that resulted in the death of a nine-year-old pupil inside a public school in Bantayan town to undergo a debriefing with the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Dr. Arden Monisit, DepEd provincial schools division superintendent, said that he does not want students to feel traumatized by what had happened to Jiel Chris Desamparado.

Desamparado died after a fistfight Thursday with his 10-year-old classmate in Vito Elementary School.

“It is the DSWD that has the capability to handle this for possible debriefing or kung unsa ang buhaton sa mga bata,” Monisit said.

Monisit said they do not also want the 10-year-old boy to experience bullying from his classmates and other pupils because of the incident.

 “Basin lang maabot sa time nga ma-bully siya ilabi na sa mga nakakita,” he said.

Monisit said they have yet to come up with an incident report. Initial information, however, revealed that the victim and his classmate were having a lunch break when the fistfight happened inside the classroom.

Monisit said they could not also hold the class adviser accountable because it happened on a lunch break. 

A five-man team composed of an administrative officer, legal officer, consultant, and DepEd officials was tasked to come up with a situation report. Monisit said the report would contain the facts of the incident.  (FREEMAN)