Ateneo Junior High adjusts 2019 class resumption after bullying incidents
Published Dec 27, 2018 02:48 pm
By Merlina Hernando Malipot
The Ateneo De Manila University – Junior High School (AJHS) on Thursday announced adjustments in resumption of classes next year following the bullying incidents involving students in its campus.
(WIKIPEDIA/ MANILA BULLETIN)
AJHS principal Jose Antonio Salvador, in a memorandum addressed to the parents of the AJHS students, said the AJHS “has decided to move the start of classes” from January 3 to January 7, 2019 to “allow the school administration, faculty, and staff ample time to prepare for the implementation of a series of concrete and proactive measures that will directly address bullying on campus.”
The ADMU has been embroiled in controversy after one of its students was caught on video bullying his fellow students inside a comfort room within the campus. The said videos of the “bully” went viral and became a national issue with the Palace, Congress and the Department of Education (DepEd) urging the concerned authorities to take action.
Salvador noted that the bullying incident “has been a painful time for our community” and “we pray to turn this pain into learning opportunities for character formation and culture formation.”
After a “thorough investigation,” the ADMU has ordered the dismissal of the student involved in the bullying incident. In a statement issued earlier, ADMU president Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ, said that the decision was a result of “thorough” investigation, meeting with both parties concerned and administration of the university.
“The decision of the administration is to impose the penalty of dismissal on the student caught bullying another student in the comfort room of the school,” Villarin said. “This means that he is no longer allowed to come back to the Ateneo,” he added.
Following the decision, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones expressed optimism that the bullying issue will be addressed holistically. “Let this be a wakeup call for everyone who believes in education and the protection of learners to take bullying in all its forms seriously,” she said.
She said DepEd is hoping for “strengthened coordination, consultation, and exchange of experiences between and among the public and private schools to address all forms of violence against children.” DepEd also noted that “only then can we truly nurture the learners and provide them a genuinely child-friendly, gender-sensitive, safe, and motivating environment.”
(WIKIPEDIA/ MANILA BULLETIN)
AJHS principal Jose Antonio Salvador, in a memorandum addressed to the parents of the AJHS students, said the AJHS “has decided to move the start of classes” from January 3 to January 7, 2019 to “allow the school administration, faculty, and staff ample time to prepare for the implementation of a series of concrete and proactive measures that will directly address bullying on campus.”
The ADMU has been embroiled in controversy after one of its students was caught on video bullying his fellow students inside a comfort room within the campus. The said videos of the “bully” went viral and became a national issue with the Palace, Congress and the Department of Education (DepEd) urging the concerned authorities to take action.
Salvador noted that the bullying incident “has been a painful time for our community” and “we pray to turn this pain into learning opportunities for character formation and culture formation.”
After a “thorough investigation,” the ADMU has ordered the dismissal of the student involved in the bullying incident. In a statement issued earlier, ADMU president Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin, SJ, said that the decision was a result of “thorough” investigation, meeting with both parties concerned and administration of the university.
“The decision of the administration is to impose the penalty of dismissal on the student caught bullying another student in the comfort room of the school,” Villarin said. “This means that he is no longer allowed to come back to the Ateneo,” he added.
Following the decision, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones expressed optimism that the bullying issue will be addressed holistically. “Let this be a wakeup call for everyone who believes in education and the protection of learners to take bullying in all its forms seriously,” she said.
She said DepEd is hoping for “strengthened coordination, consultation, and exchange of experiences between and among the public and private schools to address all forms of violence against children.” DepEd also noted that “only then can we truly nurture the learners and provide them a genuinely child-friendly, gender-sensitive, safe, and motivating environment.”