All human beings deserve to be given due respect. Respect for individual rights is paramount to life especially in the formative years of every individual.
One of the primary goal of education is to recognize these rights as associated with the imparting of knowledge. Anent to this is the implementation of child protection policy in schools.
The Department of Education (DepEd) issued its Child Protection Policy on May 3, 2012, through DepEd Order No. 40, Series 2012 to promote a zero tolerance policy for any act of child abuse, exploitation, violence, discrimination, bullying and other related offenses. As part of government service, the promulgation of the policy is intended to protect children and the underage to establish family stability. In line with these, the school as an institution is given the responsibility to provide a safe and conducive learning environment for learning. In view hereof, it is also inherent to the role of school authorities to identify the concerns of students who may be suffering or at risk of harm in the light of the mentioned scenarios. In doing so, after careful assessment and evaluation, suitable actions can be properly applied to help in the recovery of those affected.
Aside from the cited objectives, the child protection policy also embodies the mitigation of harmful practices against children including the concern involving child marriages and child prostitution.
DepEd has taken a firm implementation of the policy in a bid to correct, rectify, and control any form of abuse against children. Suffice it to say, the efficacy of mitigation from abuse is a proactive move to address the negative effect of the committed violations on children before their adult life. In the process of shaping and molding the future generation of the nation, the adequacy of measures established is imperative in aligning the academic years of students to the acceptable ethical and moral norms of the society. It is assumed that early child experiences in the early age will influence perceptions and conceptions by the time of adulthood.
The policy on child protection serves as a real-time enhancement to the welfare of the youth. The self-correcting mechanisms embedded therein will help children and young students to recognize the importance of their role in the society. From their home background, the social life of children extends to their academic endeavors. As peace of mind and self-confidence are developed, the institutional support is in place to create a safe and conducive learning environment. In addition, the policy will enable a learner to recognize that school life deserves to be called as a second home.
Hence, when human rights are taught and learned in school, the feeling of security and belongingness can be more enhanced. When the future generation of the country is in good stead, the moral standards in a society will have a secured place in the hearts of men.
By: Ms. Geraldine A. Noval | Teacher II | Bataan National High School | Balanga City, Bataan
