Teachers urge DepEd to review child protection policy

MANILA, Philippines - A group of teachers urged the Department of Education (DepEd) yesterday to review its “landmark” child protection policy, saying it prevents teachers from instilling discipline in the classroom.

DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro signed the policy last May, declaring it as a guide for teacher to deal with bullying in schools and disciplining students without committing child abuse.

Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) national president Benjo Basas said under the policy, a teacher could be charged with child abuse for scolding a student in class and embarrassing the student in front of other students.

“Even scolding a student for some infraction, could be child abuse. The student could say he was humiliated and that could be abuse already,” he said.

TDC, a federation of public school teachers’ associations nationwide, said the policy could lead to ill-disciplined Filipino youth.

Basas said while they do not object to positive discipline and doing away with corporal punishment, following the new policy while handling a class with 50 to 70 students is impossible.

“Teachers, especially those in crowded public schools, will really have a hard time maintaining order in classrooms and instilling discipline among their students,” Basas said.