Belaza-Castromayor Community Elementary School

Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education

Region XII

Division of South Cotabato

Tupi North District

Belaza-Castromayor Community Elementary School

ContextualizedSchoolChildProtectionPolicy

Objectives:

Belaza- CastromayorCommunityElementarySchoolsupports/adoptstheDepartment of Education’szero-tolerancepolicyforanyact of child abuse, exploitation, violence, discrimination, bullying and otherforms of abuse.

Principles:

Belaza-CastromayorCommunityElementaryshallabidetotheDepEd’sVision, Mission and CoreValues.
Theschoolshall be conduciveforlearning.
Everypupilshallfeelsafe and protectedfromanyform of abuse.
Theschoolshallimpose positive discipline.
SchoolPersonnelshallimplementinterventionstoprevent and eliminateanyform of abuse.
Pupilsshallpayrespecttoeveryone and refrainfromanyact of abuse.

Vision

We dream of Filipinos whopassionately love their country and whose values and competenciesenable them to realize their full potential and contribute meaningfully to building the nation.

As a learner-centered public institution, the Department of Education continuously improves itselfto better serve its stakeholders.

Mission

To protect and promote the right of every Filipino to quality,equitable, culture-based, and complete basic education where:

-Students learn in a child-friendly, gender-sensitive, safe, andmotivating environment

- Teachers facilitate learning and constantly nurture everylearner

- Administrators and staff, as stewards of the institution, ensurean enabling and supportive environment for effective learningto happen

- Family, community, and other stakeholders are activelyengaged and share responsibility for developing life-longlearners

CORE VALUES

-Maka-Diyos

-Maka-tao

-Makakalikasan

-Makabansa

POLICY STATEMENT

I. Every student should feel safe and protected from any form of abuse which, in this policy, means any kind of neglect, accidental and non-accidental physicalinjury, sexual exploitation or emotionalill-treatment.

II. Belaza-Castromayor Community Elementary School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the pupils and expects all internal and external stakeholders to share this commitment. The school will take all reasonable measures to:

Ensure safe recruitment of personnelwho work with the students;

Assure appropriate child protection desks and procedure apply;

Protect each pupil from any form of abuse, whether from an adult or another student;

Be alert to signs of abuse both in school and from outside;

Deal appropriately with every suspicion or complaint of abuse;

Adopt and operate procedures whichpromote this policy and which, so far as possible, ensure that teachers and others who are unaware of the allegations shall not be prejudice in the conduct proceedings;

Be alert to signs of abuse both in school and from outside;

Deal appropriately with every suspicion or complaint of abuse;

Adopt and operate procedures which

promote this policy and which, so far as possible, ensure that teachers and others who are unaware of the allegations shall not be prejudice in the conduct proceedings;

Support students who have been abused inaccordance with his/her agreed child protection plan;

Be alert to the health, nutrition, andmedical needs of the students;

Operate robust and sensible health &safety procedures;

Operate clear and supportive policies on bullying;

Consider and develop procedures to deal with any other safeguarding issues which

may be specific to individual pupils in the school;

III. Every complain or suspicion of abusefrom within or outside the school will be taken

seriously and in all proper circumstances willbe referred to the school child protection unitor an external agency such as MSWD, child protection unit of the police or the legalcounsel of the department.

Definition of Terms

A. “child”- refers to any person below eighteen (18) years of age or those over but are unable to fully take care of themselves or protect themselves from abuse neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of a physical or mental disability or condition. (RA 7610). For purposes of this Department Order, the term also includes pupils or students who may be eighteen (18) years of age or older but are in school.

B. “Children in School” – refers to bona fide pupils, students or learners who are enrolled in basic education system, whether regular, irregular, transferee or repeater, including those who have been temporarily out of school, who are in the school or learning centers premises or participating in school-sanctioned activities.

C. “Pupil, student or Learner” – means a child regularly attends classes in any level of the basic education system under the supervision and tutelage of a teacher or facilitator

D. “School Personnel” means the person singly or collectively working in a public or private school they are classified as follows:

a. “School head”- refers to the chief executive officer or administrator in a public or

privateschool or learning center.

b. “Other School Officials” include other school officers, including teachers, who are occupying supervisory positions or positions of responsibility, and are involved in policy formulation or implementation in a school.

c. “ Child Protection “ – refers to programs, services, procedures and structures that are intended to prevent and respond to abuse, neglect, exploitation, discrimination and violence.

d. “Academic Personnel”includes all school personnel who are formally engaged in actual teaching service or in research assignments, either on a full-time or a part tie-time basis, as well as those who possess certain prescribed academic functions directly supportive of teaching, such as registrars, librarians, guidance counselors, researchers, and other similar persons. They may include school officials who are responsible for academic matters, and other school officials.

e. “Parents” – refers to biological parents, step-parents, adoptive parents and he common-law spouse or partner of the parent.

f. “Guardians or Custodians” – refers to legal guardians, foster parents, and other persons, including relatives or even non-relatives, who have physical custody of the child.

E. Discrimination Against Children– refers to an act of exclusion, distinction, restriction, or preference which is based on any ground such as age, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, language, religion, political and other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, being infected or affected by AIDS, being pregnant, being a child in conflict with the law, being a child with a disability or other status or condition, and which has the purpose and effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by all persons, on an equal footing, of all rights and freedoms.

F. “Child Abuse”– maltreatment of a child whether habitual or not which includes any of the following:

1. Psychological or physical abuse, neglect, cruelty, sexual abuse and emotional maltreatment;

2. Any act by deeds or words which debases, degrades or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of a child as a human being;

3. Unreasonable derivation of the child’s basic needs for survival, such as food and shelter; or

4. failure to immediately give medical treatment t an injured child resulting in serious impairment of his or her growth and development or in the child’s permanent incapacity or death (Sec.3 [b], RA 7610

G. Child Exploitation –refers to the use of children for someone else’s advantage, gratification or profit, often resulting in an unjust, harmful or cruel treatment of the child; these activities disrupt the child’s normal physical or mental health, education, moral or social emotional development; it covers situations of manipulation, misuse, abuse, victimization, oppression or ill-treatment .

H. Violence Against Children – refers to a single act or series of acts committed by school administrators, academic or non-academic personnel, against a child, which result in, or is likely to result in physical, sexual, psychological harm or suffering, or other abuses or threats of such acts, battery, assault, coercion, harassment, or arbitrary deprivation of liberty

I. Corporal Punishment – refers to a kind of punishment or penalty imposed for an alleged or actual offense, which is carried out or inflicted for the purpose of discipline, training or control, by a teacher, school administrator, an adult, or any other child who has been given or has assumed authority or responsibility for punishment and discipline

J. “ Violence against children committed in schools”- refers to a single act or a series of acts committed by school administrators; academic and non-academic personnel against a child, which result in or is likely to result in physical, sexual psychological harm or suffering, or other abuses including threats of such acts, battery, assault, coercion, harassment or arbitrary derivation of liberty.

G. Cyber Bullying

CHILD PROTECTION COMMITTEE

Chairman / Jane B. Cabarlo / School Principal I
Vice chairman / Amelita D. Ignacio / MT-II/Guidance Coordinator
Secretary / Consorcia A. Tanaleon / T-III/ Teachers’ Association President
Members / Elena M. Mabalot / MT-I
Febie L. Lorenzo / SPG President
Gabriela Tumbagahan / Brgy.Kgd. Committee on Education Chairman
Gemma O. Malazo / PTA President
Estanislao S. Orencio / Punong Barangay

CODE OF CONDUCT
(Based in School Memorandum of Agreement)Minor Offenses

Borrows and tampers ID and litters in & outside the classroom.
Is not in prescribed haircut & applies inappropriate hair dye or highlights.
Always absent from class, shouts and makes unnecessary noise during class hours.
Applies inappropriate nail polish
Does not practice Republic Act 9003 “MAG SEGREGATE”
Wears fashion bandanas and sunglasses during class hours.

CODE OF CONDUCT
(Based in School Memorandum of Agreement)

Major Offenses

Is a caught in dope addiction, use or possess dangerous or prohibited drugs.
Smokes inside and outside (50m away) from the school campus during school days.
Involves gambling in any form during school days.
Is of immoral conduct.
Organizes/joins membership in illegal gangs or activities contrary to school thrust.
Reports to school and attends classes under the influence of liquor.
Gross disrespect to teachers and other school officials and other persons in authority.
Brings and uses or involves in selling of deadly weapon or explosive inside the campus.
Gravely defies teachers and school authorities.
Absent from class due to computer addiction, v & other related entertainment.
Destruct school property.
Is dishonest and cheats during examination, steals or any act of thief.
Threatens or coerces fellow students or any school authority or inflicts physical injury to others.
Verbally or physically assaults a person or jumps over the fence.
Wears earrings (among male students)
Uses offensive, malicious, indecent or blasphemous words.
Brings cell phones and other electronic gadgets that disturbs classes.
Displays affection with opposite sex in public.
Uses eye liners, trims brows and uses lip colors (refers to male students).

ACTION & PENALTY

1ST Offense – written warning on anecdotal record with parent’s notice

2nd Offense – written warning on anecdotal record in the presence of the parents

3rd Offense – discipline with parent’s information

4th Offense – refer to MSWD

SIGNS OF ABUSE

Possible signs of abuse include (but are not limited to):

The pupil says s/he has been abused or asks a question which gives rise to that inference;or consistent explanation
There is no reasonable or student’s injury is unusualin kind or location; there have been a number of injuries; there is a pattern to injuries
Display consistent aggression-frustration, maladjustment and anti-social behavior.

The pupil’s behavior stands out from the group as either being extreme model behavior or extremely challengingbehavior; or there is a sudden change in the student’s behavior;

The student’s development is delayed;

The student is reluctant to go home, orhas been openly rejected by his/her parents or guardians.

DUTY OF THE FACULTY AND STAFF

Every faculty and staff of the school is undera general legal duty;

Abide to the Mission and Vision of the Department of Education;
To protect students from abuse;
To be aware of the school’s child protection procedure and to follow them;
Give attention to the health, nutrition, and medical needs of the students;
To acquaint on how to access and implement the procedures, independently if necessary.
To keep a sufficient record of any significant complaint, conversation or event.
To report any matters of concern to the committee.
To be aware of the school’s child protection procedure and to follow them;
Give attention to the health, nutrition, and medical needs of the students;
To acquaint on how to access and implement the procedures, independently if necessary.

PROCEDURES

The committee hearing the complaint ofabuse must;Listen carefully to the student and keepan open mind. Reassure the student but not give a guarantee of absolute confidentiality.

The members of the committee shouldexplain that they need to pass the information to the higher authorities who will ensure that the correct action is taken.

Keep a sufficient written record of conversation securely. The record should be signed by the person making it and should use names, not initials.

FLOW CHART PROCEDURE

REFERRAL AND GUIDLINES

A referral to the higher authorities will not normally be made where;

The complaint does not involve a seriouscriminal offense;
The case is one that can be satisfactorilyinvestigated and dealt with under the school’s internal procedures.

However, if during the course of internal procedures, it appears that the situation is more serious, the committee will again consider whether a referral should be made.

REPORTING

(Adopted from DepEd Order No.40s 2012)

CONFIDENTIALITY AND INFORMATION SHARING

The school will keep all child protection records confidential, allowing disclosure only to those who need the information in order to safeguard and promote the welfareof the student. The school will cooperate with the higher authorities or social servicesto ensure that all relevant information is shared for the purposes of childprotection investigations tosafeguard the students.