MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education reminded public and private schools to enforce policies that would prevent bullying after videos of a student physically and verbally attacking his peers went viral.
A student from the Ateneo Junior High School was seen in different videos bullying his peers—from making a boy say “Bobo ako (I am dumb)” to assaulting a schoolmate in a comfort room inside the campus.
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“The DepEd reminds all public and private kindergarten, elementary and secondary schools of the necessity and importance of adopting and enforcing anti-bullying policies in their respective institutions,” the agency said in a statement Friday.
In 2012, the department ordered the creation of a Child Protection Committee in all public and private educational institutions.
It also cited the Rule IV of DepEd Order 55, series of 2013, or the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Anti-Bullying Act, which stressed that bullying prevention program in schools should be “comprehensive, multifaceted and shall involve all education stakeholders and personnel.”
These should involve counseling, life skills training, education and other activities that would enhance the psychological, emotional and psycho-social well-being of victims, bullies and other parties who may be affected by bullying incident.
“Private schools that fail to comply with the requirements of the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 or the IRR may face penalties under the law,” DepEd warned.
Moreover, the department urged students who experience or witness bullying or abuse to speak up and report incidents to parents, teachers and appropriate authorities for proper intervention.
“Any information relating to the identity and personal circumstances of the bully/ies, the victim/s or the witness/es shall be treated with utmost confidentiality by the Child Protection Committee and the school personnel,” it said.
Palace: Bullying has no place in schools
Malacañang on Friday called on ADMU to take action on the bullying incidents inside the campus.
“I watched that. I was bothered by what I saw,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.
He added: “I think the school should investigate and do something about it. You can’t be allowing bullying inside classroom and school.”
The school has already launched an investigation into the incidents.
ADMU President Jose Ramon Villarin said the institution is “not silent” on its stand on violence and would not hesitate to impose the penalty of dismissal or even expulsion in cases of grave misconduct.
“Let me be very clear: the school does not condone such behavior. We have our codified standards of conduct and all students are made aware of these and their rights and responsibilities,” Villarin said.