With the increasing incidents of violence in schools, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said the government should do more for the safety and security of students and teachers.
It cited the stabbing of a 15-year-old student, the death of a 12-year-old due to accidental shooting, and the several bomb threats in different elementary and high schools.
While the CHR recognizes the efforts of concerned local government units (LGUs) and the Department of Education (DepEd) in providing interventions such as psychological and debriefing sessions, as well as the investigations made by the Philippine National Police (PNP) on the incidents, “more needs to be done in order to avoid similar incidents from taking place in the future.”
It cited that PNP Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. has urged public and private schools to allow the presence of police officers inside their premises as a "crime deterrent" measure.
With the increased presence of police officers, the PNP believes that acts of bullying among students within and beyond school grounds would be prevented.
But the CHR expressed its concerns on the PNP’s proposal. “We thus urge the PNP to similarly consult and work with DepEd in protecting the rights of children in educational settings," it said.
"CHR underscores the need to uphold the best interest of child in these instances -- consistent with the Philippine government's obligations as a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and as embodied in our domestic laws -- and seek balance in upholding safety in educational institutions by further studying the implications of this proposal," it said in a statement.
"A child's best interest is a holistic concept that embraces the child's physical, mental, spiritual, moral, psychological, and social development," the CHR stressed.
"The Committee on the Rights of the Children in its General Comment No. 14 (2013) underscore the need to satisfy the State's obligation by appropriately integrating and consistently applying the framework of the child's best interest in all matters that may directly or indirectly impact them,” it said.
It pointed out that the PNP should take into consideration DepEd Department Order (DO) No. 40, s.2012 or the Child Protection Policy, which established the creation of the multisectoral Child Protection Committee , and the DepEd DO No. 003, s.2021, which created the Child Protection Unit and Child Rights in Education Desk in DepEd .
"The objective of these policies is to give life to CRC on the ground by protecting students from cruelty carried out by fellow students, adults, and/or persons in authority, as well as other conditions that may hamper their education and development," the CHR said.
When carried out effectively, the CHR believes that these policies, together with consultations, “would foster a setting conducive for child development and learning.”
TAGS: #CHR #School violence #PNP #DepEd #LGUs