Partner organizations of the Department of Education backed its efforts to ensure that the rights of children in education are protected and upheld at all times, especially during the time of a pandemic.
During the Second National Summit on the Rights of the Child in Education held online from Nov. 23 to 24, distinguished speakers and other partner organizations reaffirmed their commitment to uphold the rights of children especially during this COVID-19 pandemic.
With the theme, “Isulong! Karapatan ng Bawat Bata sa Edukasyon sa Panahon ng COVID-19 (Advance the Rights of Every Child in Education in the Time of COVID-19),” this year’s summit was attended by public and private basic education schools, the central, regional, and schools division offices, representatives from other government offices, civil society, international and private organizations, children, as well as parents, guardians, and caregivers of children.
The keynote message was delivered by DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones. Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta and Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian and Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo, as chairpersons of the basic education committees in the Senate and House, and the Office of the President, represented by Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Michael Ong, as well as prominent officials in private and international organizations, children-learners, and parents are also among the speakers on the rights of the child.
Among the distinguished speakers during the summit included Dr. Philip Jaffé, a member of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child who delivered a lecture on the role of child rights in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Robert Jenkins, Global Chief of Education and Associate Director of the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund headquarters in New York City, delivered a lecture on the effects of COVID-19 on children’s education around the world and the responses of various countries.
UNICEF highlighted that a rights-based education approach calls for the integration of the right of access to education, the right to quality of education, and the right of every child to have her or his individual human rights respected within the education system.
“We urgently need to join forces to tackle learning challenges in the Philippines, ensure education does not stop, build capacities, and strengthen equitable access to quality education for all children,” UNICEF Philippines Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov said.
Save the Children Philippines Chief Executive Officer Atty. Alberto Muyot underscored how the “RBE is an effective learning approach in teaching Filipino children their basic human rights.”
Stairway Foundation also backed RBE, noting that it has been working on the promotion and protection of children’s rights. SFI Senior Advocacy Officer Ysrael Diloy also talked about the best practices and challenges in child protection in cyberspace, as well as other forms of home-based sexual violence against children.
DepEd Region 10, which is the partner region for this year’s summit, said that it has always acknowledged the significance of the RBE approach.
“We ensure our schoolchildren have access to quality basic education and that this is delivered in a child-friendly learning environment,” said Regional Director Arturo Bayocot.
“In an area where there is local armed conflict which threatens the access to education of our indigenous peoples learners, adapting to the new normal has been quite a challenge,” Bayocot said. “Yet, we strive to do our best to continue the delivery of education not only as duty-bearers but as advocates of the learners’ rights as children,” he added.