The Commission on Human Rights said children deserve to develop critical thinking after a student module from the Department of Education has discouraged them from joining peaceful assemblies.

CHR spokesperson Atty. Jacqueline Ann de Guia said that it is important for children to develop critical thinking on issues that affect not only their personal lives but also the government.

A module on Media and Information Literacy has discouraged children from participating in peaceful assemblies such as rallies, citing that the government is doing its best for all Filipinos and its constituents.

"Love for one's country is not limited to mere obedience, but can also be manifested through collectively tackling issues of our communities and the country under the guidance of rights entitled to us and protected by the Constitution," said De Guia.

She said that this includes the people’s right to freedom of speech, of expression, the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and petition the government for redress of grievances.  

"We stress that our current freedoms that we enjoy today are fruits of past struggles," she said. "Instead of discouraging dissent, it would be better to demand better services and accountability from the government and its officials as part of their duty to respect, protect, and fulfill the rights of all."

The CHR has encouraged Filipinos to report any errors found in learning materials from DepEd as this will help them make calls for improvement in the current educational system that would best benefit the children.