Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education

Region XII

Division of Cotabato

Makilala West District

SAN VICENTE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Bulakanon, Makilala, Cotabato

Submitted by:

DANILO A. NACILLA

Principal 1

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

Pursuant to Republic Act No. 10627 and its Implementing Rules, and Section 7 of DepEd Order No. 40, S. 2012, the Child Protection Committee of SAN VICENTE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL hereby institutes and adopts the following Child Protection Policy.

This document is designed to provide guidance to local school boards in the development, establishment and implementation of policies, procedures and programs for the prevention and intervention of bullying behavior in school.

Article 1 – General Provisions

Section 1. Title and Coverage of Application.

These Rules shall be known as the “Child Protection Policy of San Vicente Elementary School” and shall apply to all learners, teachers and personnel in connection with the cases of bullying and all forms of child abuse committed inside the premises of SAN VICENTE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL or in the occasion of its authorized activities.

Section 2. Statement of Underlying Principles and Goals

Pursuant to the 1987 Constitution, the state shall defend the rights of children to assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and special protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other conditions prejudicial to their development (Article XV, Section 3.

The constitution further provides that all educational institutions shall inculcate patriotism and nationalism, foster love of humanity, respect for human rights, appreciation of the role of national heroes in the historical development of the country, teach the rights and duties of citizenship, strengthen ethical and spiritual values, develop moral character and personal discipline, encourage critical and creative thinking, broaden scientific and technological knowledge, and promote vocational efficiency ( Article XIV, Section 3).

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) aims to protect children from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury and abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment and exploitation, including sexual abuse. The same convention establishes the right of the child to education, and with a view to achieving this right progressively, and on the basis of equal opportunity, it obliges the government to take measures to encourage regular attendance in school and reduce dropout rates. Thus, it is mandated that all appropriate measures be undertaken that school discipline is administered in a manner consistent with the child’s human dignity, and in conformity with the CRC.

Towards this end, San Vicente Elementary School, in collaboration with its local partners and stakeholders, shall ensure that all classes are conducive to the education of children. The best interest of the child shall be the paramount consideration in all decisions and actions involving children, as enunciated in the CRC. Teachers and learning facilitators especially in the classrooms are their substitute parents, and are expected to discharge their functions and duties with this in mind. In this connection, the Family Code empowers the school, its administrators and teachers, or the individual, entity or institution engaged in child care to exercise the special parental authority and responsibility over the child, while under their supervision, instruction or custody.

San Vicente Elementary School recognizes that cases of abuse may arise as a result of difficult situations faced by teachers and other officials within and outside school.

The school has adopted DepEd Memo No. 40 Series of 2012 known as the Child protection Policy to provide special protection to children who are gravely threatened or endangered by circumstances which affect their normal development and over which they have no control, and to assist the concerned agencies in their rehabilitation.

Furthermore, this school aims to ensure such special protection from all forms of abuse and exploitation and care as is necessary for the child’s well-being, taking into account the primary rights and duties of parents, legal guardians, or other individuals who are legally responsible and exercise custody over the child. This school recognizes the participatory rights of the child in the formulation and implementation of policies, and in all proceedings affecting them, whether they be victims or aggressors, either directly, or through a representative.

Section 3. Definition of Terms.

As used herein, the following terms are defined . . .

  1. Bullying – means overt, unwanted, or repeated act or gestures, including verbal or written communications or images transmitted in any manner (including digitally or electronically), physical acts committed, aggression, or any other behaviors that are committed by a pupil or group of pupils against another pupil with the intent to harass, ridicule, humiliate, intimidate, or harm the other targeted pupil and create for the targeted pupil an objectively hostile school environment that places the targeted pupil in reasonable fear or harm to his person and property; has a substantially detrimental effect on the targeted pupil’s physical or mental health; has the effect of substantially interfering with the targeted pupil’s academic performance; or has the effect of substantially interfering with the targeted pupil’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities and privileges provided by the school.

Bullying can include:

Physical Bullying – involves hurting a person’s body or possessions. It includes hitting, kicking, punching, spitting, tripping or pushing, taking or breaking someone’s things, and making mean or rude hand gestures.

Verbal Bullying – involves saying mean things. It can include teasing, name-calling, inappropriate sexual comments, taunting or threatening to cause harm.

Social / Relational Bullying – involves hurting someone’s reputation or relationships. Social bullying involves telling other children not to be friends with someone, leaving someone out on purpose, spreading rumors about someone, or embarrassing someone in public.

Electronic / Written Communication – involves cyber bullying, collective or group note writing, any bullying undertaken through the use of electronic devices (Computer, cellphones).

  1. Bully – refers to any pupil who commits act of bullying as defined by this Act or this IRR.
  1. Bullied or Victim – refers to any pupil who experiences the acts of bullying or retaliation as defined by the Act or this IRR
  1. Bystander - refers to any person who witnesses or has personal knowledge of any actual or perceived acts or incidents of bullying or retaliation as defined by this IRR.
  1. Child Abuse – refers to the maltreatment, whether habitual or not, of the child which includes any of the following:
  1. Psychological and 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 deprivation of his basic needs for survival, such as food or shelter; or
  4. Failure to immediately give medical treatment to an injured child resulting in serious impairment of his growth and development or in his permanent incapacity or death.
  1. Child – refers to a person below 18 years of age but, upon evaluation of qualified physician, psychologist or psychiatrist, are found to be unable to fully take care of themselves from abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of a physical or mental ability or condition, for purposes of this CPP, the term also includes pupils or students who may be eighteen (18) years of age or older but are in school.
  1. Cruelty – refers to any act by deeds or words which debases, degrades or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of a child as a human being. Discipline administered by a school personnel to a student shall not constitute cruelty provided it is reasonable in manner and moderate in degree and does not constitute physical or psychological injury as defined herein;
  1. Physical injury – includes but not limited to lacerations, fractured bones, burns, internal injuries, severe injury, or serious bodily harm suffered by a child.
  1. Psychological injury – means harm to the child’s psychological or intellectual functioning which may be exhibited by severe anxiety, depression, withdrawal, or outward aggressive behavior, or a combination of said behaviors, which may be demonstrated by a change of behavior, emotional response or cognition.
  1. Neglect – means unreasonable failure to provide the child of his basic needs for survival such as food, clothing, shelter, basic education or medical care so as to seriously endanger the physical, mental, social and emotional growth and development of the child.
  1. Sexual abuse – includes the employment of, use, persuasion, inducement, enticement, or coercion of a child to engage in, or assist another person to engage in sexual intercourse or lascivious conduct or molestation, prostitution, or incest with children.
  1. Lascivious conduct – means intentional touching, either directly or through clothing of the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks, or the introduction of any object into the genitalia, anus or mouth of any person, whether of the same or opposite sex, with an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, or arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person, bestially, masturbation, lascivious exhibition of the genitals or pubic area of a person.
  1. Exploitation – means the hiring, employment, persuasion, inducement or coercion of a child to perform in obscene exhibitions and indecent shows, whether live or in video or film, or to pose or act as a model in obscene publications or pornographic materials, or to sell or distribute said materials.
  1. Learning Center – refers to learning sources and facilities of a learning program for out-of-school youths and adults as defined in DepEd Order No. 43 S. 2013.
  1. Service Provider – refers to any person who is not a teacher or school personnel but who works in the school, such as but not limited to, security guards, canteen personnel, utility workers and transportation service personnel.
  1. student – refers to a person who attends classes in any level of basic education, and includes a pupil or a learner as defined in DepEd Order No. 40 s. 2012.

Article 2 – Child Protection Committee and its Functions

Section 4. Composition – The Child Protection Committee ( CPC ) of the school as per D.O. No. 40 s. 2012 and the IRR of the Anti-Bullying Act shall be composed of the following:

Chairperson:DANILO A. NACILLA--Principal

Vice Chairperson: LEONOR B. RAMEL--Child Protection Coordinator

Members: CARMENCITA JOY S. CANONIO-Guidance Counselor

: HON. LOVELY PINSOY--Education Committee Chairman

: REY GABIA--PTA President

: CATHERINE SUAREZ--SPG President

Section 5. First Meeting and Term of Office – The CPC shall be convened by the principal within 15 days from the start of each school year and shall serve as such until their successors shall have been constituted.

Section 6. Functions of CPC - The CPC shall perform the following functions:

  1. To draft and update the School Child Protection Policy with a policy on anti-bullying which shall be reviewed every three (3) years;
  2. To initiate and conduct information dissemination and awareness-raising programs with school stakeholders in preventing and addressing bullying, abuse, exploitation, violence, and discrimination, and organize preventive activities;
  3. To ensure that the Child Protection Policy with anti-bullying policy adopted by the school is implemented;
  4. To monitor all cases or incidents related to bullying and child abuse reported or referred by the teacher, guidance counselor or coordinator or any person designated to handle prevention and intervention measures;
  5. To develop and implement a school-based referral and monitoring system;
  6. To establish a system for identifying students who may be suffering from significant harm based on any physical, emotional or behavioral signs;
  7. To identify, refer and, if appropriate, report to appropriate offices cases involving child abuse, exploitation, violence, discrimination and bullying;
  8. To give assistance to parents or guardians, whenever necessary in securing expert guidance from the appropriate offices or institutions;
  9. To coordinate closely with the Women and Child Protection Desks of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Local Social Welfare Development Office (LSWDO), other government agencies and non-government organizations (NGOs), as may be appropriate;
  10. To monitor the implementation of positive measures and effective procedures in providing the necessary support for the child and for those who care for the child; and
  11. To ensure that the children’s right to be heard are respected and upheld in all matters and procedures affecting their welfare.

Section 7. Meetings of CPC – The CPC shall meet once in a month to conduct its regular meeting on the date, time and place fixed by the members and may hold special meetings in the exigency of service upon the call of its chairman or by majority of its members.

Article 3. Duties and Responsibilities

Section 8. Duties of School Principal – The School Principal shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

  1. Ensure the institution and adoption by the school of effective child protection policies and procedures, and submit the same to the division Office. She shall also submit to the Division Office within the first week of each school year a report on relevant information and statistics on bullying, retaliation and child abuse from the preceding school year.
  2. Implement and monitor compliance of the CPP;
  3. Ensure that all pupils, school personnel,, parents, guardians or custodians, and visitors and guests are made aware of School Child Protection Policy;
  4. Organize and convene the Child Protection Policy Committee for the school within 15 days from the start of every school year;
  5. Conduct capacity building activities for the members of Child Protection Committee and Guidance Counselor/Teachers, preferably during summer and the beginning of the school year;
  6. Conduct disciplinary proceedings in cases of offenses committed by learners;
  7. Provide pupils and their parents or guardians a copy of the Child Protection Policy adopted by the school. Such policy shall likewise be included in the school’s Pupils’/Employees’ Handbook and shall be conspicuously posted on the school walls and website if there is any;
  8. Educate pupils on the dynamics of bullying, the anti-bullying policies of the school as well as the mechanisms for the anonymous reporting of acts of bullying or retaliation;
  9. Educate parents and guardians about the dynamics of bullying, the child protection or anti-bullying policy of the school and how parents and guardians can provide support and reinforce the said policy at home;
  10. Devise prevention, intervention, protective and remedial measures to address bullying;
  11. Ensure the safety of the victim of bullying, the bully, and the bystander and determine the pupils’ needs for protection;
  12. Ensure that the rights of the victim, the bully,and the bystander are protected and upheld during the conduct of the investigation;
  13. Accomplish the prescribed Intake Sheet, whenever there is an incident of bullying, maintain a record of all proceedings related to bullying, and submit reports prescribed in “Annex A” of DepEd Order # 40,S. 2012, to the Division Office;
  14. Maintain public record or statistics of incidents of bullying and retaliation;
  15. Coordinate with appropriate offices and other agencies or instrumentalities for appropriate assistance and intervention, as required by the circumstances;
  16. The school principal or any person who holds a comparable role shall be responsible for the implementation and oversight of the child-protection or anti-bullying policy;
  17. To provide allocation from the MOOE for the implementation of Child Protection program as mandated by DepEd Order No. 40,s. 2012.

Section 9. Duties and Responsibilities of School Personnel – Teachers and other school personnel shall:

  1. Participate and cooperate in all prevention, intervention and other measures related to bullying implemented by the school;
  2. Report to school authorities any incident of bullying; and
  3. Exercise special parental authority and responsibility over the child while under their supervision, instruction and custody. Authority and responsibility shall apply to all authorized activities whether inside or outside the premises of the school, entity or institution;
  4. Keep the pupils in their company and support, educate and instruct them by right precepts and good example;
  5. Give the students love and affection, advice and counsel, companionship and understanding;
  6. Enhance, protect, preserve and maintain the the pupil’s physical and mental health at all times;
  7. Furnish the learners with good and wholesome educational materials, supervise their activities, recreation and association with others, protect them from bad company and prevent them from acquiring habits detrimental to their health, studies and morals;
  8. Represent the pupils in all matters affecting their interests;
  9. Inculcate the value of respect and obedience;
  10. Practice positive and non-violent discipline as may be required under the circumstances; provided, that in no case shall corporal punishment be inflicted upon the pupils;
  11. Perform such other duties as are imposed by law upon them, as substitute parents or guardians; and
  12. School personnel shall also strictly comply with the school’s child protection policy.

Section 10. Duties and Responsibilitiesof Students and Learners-The students or learners shall:

a.Participate and cooperate in all prevention, intervention and other measures related to bullying implemented by the school;

b. Avoid or refrain from any act of bullying;

c. Intervene to protect the victim, unless it will jeopardize his safety and security; and

d. Report to school authorities any incidentof bullying and child abuse.

e. Conduct themselves in accordance with their levels of development, maturity, and demostrated capabilities, with a proper regard for the rights and welfare of other persons;

f. Respect another person’s right regardless of opinion, status, gender, ethnicity, religion, as well as everyone’s moral and physical integrety; and

g. Observe the Code of Conduct for Students as embodied in the Student’s Handbook.

h. Comply with the school’s regulation, as long as they are in harmony with their best interests. Pupils, students and learners shall refrain from:

  1. Engaging in discrimination, or leading a group of pupils or students to discriminate another, with reference to one’s physical appearance, weaknesses and status of any sort;
  2. Doing any act that is inappropriate or sexually provocative;
  3. Participating in behavior of other students that is illegal, unsafe or abusive;
  4. Marking or damaging school property, including books, in any way;
  5. Engaging in fights or any agressive behavior;
  6. Introducing into the school premises or otherwise possessing prohibited articles, such as deadly weapons, drugs, alcohol, toxic and noxious substances, cigarettes and pornographic materials; and
  7. Performing other similar acts that cause damage or injury to another.

An allegation that any of these acts has been committed shall not be used to curtail the child’s basic rights, or interprted to defeat the objectives of this Child Protection Policy