The Department of Education (DepEd) on Friday, Feb. 12, said that it will soon issue a supplemental policy in order to address child protection issues in the context of home-based learning and homeschooling.
DepEd said that the supplemental policy will be issued “after conducting a series of consultations with different education and child rights stakeholders” last year. It will take into consideration the “lessons and insights learned” from one-quarter of implementation of the Basic Education-Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP) this school year.
The supplemental guidelines, DepEd explained, is part of its efforts to enhance its Child Protection Policy.
Meanwhile, DepEd reiterated its commitment to establish a child-friendly, gender-sensitive, safe, and motivating environment for the Filipino learners. “We understand that prolonged exposure of children to the Internet may lead to untoward risks and incidents, especially if not guided by responsible adults,” it added.
Recognizing this, DepEd said that it is continuously taking drastic steps to protect children in the digital realm. “This significant mission is even more critical to be addressed immediately as many of our learners use online learning to continue their education amidst the pandemic,” the agency explained.
Guided by its DepEd Child Protection Policy (D.O. No. 40, s. 2012) and in relation to D.O. No. 55, s. 2013 or the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Anti-Bullying Act, DepEd said that it has “taken measures to ensure that learners are safe while they are studying online.”
DepEd added that it has also ramped up advocacy campaigns and organized a series of national summit and webinars to educate DepEd personnel, parents, guardians, caregivers, and learners on how to protect children from risks online.
In addition, DepEd said that the agency is consistently downloading support funds and conducting cyber safety for schools training of trainers and capacity-building activities in all DepEd regions.
“As we move towards the future, utilizing the Internet for advancement in society is inevitable,” DepEd said. “Thus, everyone must safeguard the future generation from the lingering threats in the cyber realm,” it added.
In celebration of this year’s Safer Internet Day observed every Feb. 9, DepEd also enjoined other government institutions, local government units, media, sectoral leaders, community members, parents, and other stakeholders to “stand with us today in creating a safer, friendlier, and better digital world for our children.”