The Department of Education called on its field offices and schools to take part in the 18-day campaign to end violence against women and children (VAWC), to run from Monday, Nov. 25 to Dec.10.
In a statement, DepEd said Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Fatima Lipp Panontongan urged its offices, including the Central, Regional, and Schools Division Offices (SDOs), as well as schools and private basic education institutions, to participate in activities related to the campaign.
“We encourage everyone to participate and to help foster a safe, inclusive, and empowering environment,” Panontongan said.
As outlined in DepEd Memo No. 65, s. 2024, the Department of Education will hold a culminating activity aimed at promoting the prevention of gender-based violence (GBV) against women and children in the basic education sector.
DepEd field offices and schools may participate in various activities, including incorporating VAW-related presentations during flag ceremonies, displaying campaign banners, creating materials focused on VAW, and organizing other VAW-related initiatives such as discussions, orientations, and learning sessions.
Additionally, DepEd encourages field offices and schools to organize their own activities within their respective jurisdictions, in line with the guidelines set forth in the DepEd Memo.
DepEd said women and children make up a significant portion of its constituents.
As of May 2024, DepEd supports 705,258 female teaching personnel, 44,477 female non-teaching staff, and 34,480 teaching-related workers. The department serves an estimated 27 million learners nationwide.
Spearheaded by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW), this year's sub-theme, "VAW Bigyang-Wakas, Ngayon na ang Oras!" aims to commemorate 20 years of progress in addressing violence against women and children, marking the two-decade milestone of the Anti-VAWC Act (RA 9262).