The Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) and various Local Government units are drafting stricter measures to curb the rise of bullying in schools and campuses.
CHEd’s Office of Student Affairs Chief Isabel F. Inlayo said the implementing guidelines for the creation of the student crime prevention councils in all higher education institutions will have a public hearing on Nov. 22.
It can be recalled that Education Secretary Armin Luistro to issue Department Order No. 40 or DepEd’s Child Protection Policy in May in response to the spate of bullying incidents in local schools.
DepEd’s directive was to impose a “zero tolerance policy for any act of child abuse, exploitation, violence, discrimination, bullying and other forms of abuse…” and likewise included a provision on cyberbullying.
Inquirer News also reported that local government units are separately passing their own legislation on campus violence and bullying.
The Quezon City government recently passed Ordinance SP-2157 or the Anti-Bullying Ordinance.
The ordinance “recognizes and aims to put an end to the alarming problem of bullying among students.” This directive gives the school and authorized personnel special parental authority and makes the parents and legal guardians of students who have committed bullying acts liable for their behavior.
