Child Protection Policy 2023
Child Protection Policy 2023
Child Protection Policy 2023
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Region IX, Zamboanga Peninsula
DIVISION OF ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY
Naga District
PISAAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
I.
In default of the law, the maxim rules.
INTRODUCT
The school and home are partners in educating our children. This being so,
ION
home-school cooperation is essential to the fullest development of the educational
enterprise, in so far as preparing the child to live a full, rich and happy life through
a vitalized implementation of DepEd Order No. 40 s. 2012 known as the “DepEd
Child Protection Policy”.
The knowledge of this policy is a must for every educator and even internal
and external stakeholders for them to “Do more, to have more and to be more”
equiped on the ethical and moral standards and guidlines on protecting children in
school from Abuse, Violence, Exploitation, Discrimination, Bullying and other
forms of abuse .
Preamble
Child Protection is a process throughout the lifetime of any organization in
dealing child and young adults below 18 years and those over but in capable to
fully take care and protect themselves.THEREFORE, We the teachers and
stakeholders of Pisaan Elementary School absolutely decided to help prevent
children from all forms of abuse, Violence, Exploitation, Discrimination, Bullying
and other Forms of Abuse, which are unpredictable to happen and detrimental to
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physical, mental, and emotional well-being of the child. Furhermore, perceive
moral convictions as to their basic human rights, dignity and worth as an
emobodied spirit and to promote social growth and better educational priciples,
standards and values, have resolved to combine our endeavours to accomplish
these goals.
Policy of
Pursuant to the 1987 Constitution, the State shall defend the right of children
Statement
to assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and special protection from all
forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation and other conditions prejudicial to
their development. (Article XV, Section 3 [2]).
The convention on the rights of the child (CRC) aims to protect children
from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury and abuse, neglect or
negligent treatment, maltreatment and exploitation, including sexual abuse. The
same convention establishes the right of the child to education , and with a view to
achieving this right progressively, and on the basis of equal oppurtunity, it obliges
the goverment to take measures to encourage regular attendace in school and
reduce drop-out rates. Thus, it is mandated that all appropriate measures be
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undertaken to ensure that school discipline is administered in a manner consistent
with the child’s human dignity, and in conformity with the CRC.
engaged in child care to exercise the special parental authority and responsibility
over the child, while under their supervision, instruction or custody.
The School recognizes that cases of abuse may arise as a result of the
difficult situations faced by teachers and other officials within and outside school.
The School has adopted the policy to provide special protection to children
who are gravely threatened or endangered by circumstances which affect their
normal development and over which they have no control, and to assist the
concerned agencies in their rehabilitation.
Furthermore, this School aims to ensure such special protection from all
forms of abuse and exploitation and care as is necessary for the childs well-being,
taking into account the primary rights and duties of parents, legal guardians, or
other individuals who are legally responsible and exercise custody over the child.
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The School recognizes the participatory rights of the child in the formulation and
implementation of policies, and in all proceedings affecting them, whether they be
victims or aggressors, either directly, or through a representative.
Accordingly, this School reiterates a zero tolerance policy for any act of
child abuse, exploitation, violence, discrimination, bullying and other forms of
abuse, and hereby promulgates this Child Protection Policy.
Definition of
1. Child
– refers to any persons below eighten (18) years of age or those
Terms
over but are unable to fully take care of themselves from abuse, neglect,
cruelty, exploitation or discrimination because of a physical or mental
disability or condition (RA 7610). For purposes of this Child Protection
Policy, the term also includes pupils or students who may be eighten (18)
yers af age or older but are in school.
2. Children in School - refers to a bona fide pupil who are enrolled in the
basic education system, whether regular, transferee or repeater, including
those who have been temporarily out of school, who are in the school or
learning centers premises or participating in school-sanctioned activities.
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a. School Head refers to the chief excutive officer or the principal in
school
b. Other School Officials include other school officers, including
teachers, who are
occupying supervisory positions or positions of respoonsibility, and
are invloved in policy formulation or implementation in a school.
c. Academic personnel include all school personnel who are formally
engage in actual teaching service, either on a full-time or past-time
basis.
d. Other personnel includes all other non-academic personnel in the
school, whatever may be the nature of their appointment and status
of employment.
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engage or be involved in, the creation of such films, indecent
publication or material; and
iii. Acts causing or attempting to cause the child ro engage in any
sexual activity by force, threat of force, physical or other harm
or coercion, or through inducement, gifts or favors.
c. Physical Violence refers to acts or omissions causing or likely to
cause mental or emotional suffering of the child,such as butnot
limited to intimidation, harassment, stalking, dameage to property,
public ridicule or humiliation, deduction or threat of deduction from
grade or merit as a form of punishment, and repeated verbal abuse.
d. Other Acts Violence of a physical, sexual or psychological nature
that are prejudicial to the best interest of the child.
13. Bullying or Peer Abuse – refers to willful aggressive behavior that
is directed, towards a particular victim who may be out-numbered,
younger, weak, with disability, less confident, or otherwise vulnerable.
More particularly:
a. Bullying – is commited when a pupil commits an act or a series of
acts directed towards another pupil, or a series of single acts
directed towards several pupils in a school setting or a place of
learning, which results in physical and mental abuse, harasssment,
intimidation, or humiliation. Such acts may consists of any one or
more of the following:
i. Threats to inflict a wrong upon the person, honor or property
of the person or on his or her family;
ii. Stalking or constantly following or pursuing a person in his
or her daily activities, with unwanted and obsessive
attention;
iii. Taking of property;
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iv. Public humiliation, or public and whether real or imaginary,
or any act, omission, condition, status, or circumstance
tending to cause dishonor, discredit or expose a person to
contempt;
v. Deliberate destruction or defacement of , or damage to the
child’s property;
vi. Physical violence committed upon a pupil, which may or may
not resuslt to harm or injury, with or without the aid of a
weapon. Such violince may be in the form of mauling,
hitting, punching, kicking, throwing things at the pupil,
pinching, spanking, or other similar acts;
vii. Demanding or requiring sexual or monetary facors, or
exacting moner or property, from a pupil; and
viii. Restraining the liberty and freedom of pupil.
b. Cyber-bullying – is any conduct defined in the preceding
paragraph, as redultin in harassment, intimidation, or humliation,
through electronic means or other technology, such as, but not
limited to texting, email, instant messaging, chatting, internet, social
nerwoeking websites or other platforms or formats.
14. Other acts of abuse by a pupil – refers to other serious acts of
abuse committed by a pupil of the same school, not falling under the
definition of “bullying” in the preceding procvisions, including butnot
limited to acts of physical, sexual or psychological nature.
15. Corporal Punishment – refers to a kind of punishment orpenalty
imposedfor an alleged or actual offense, which is carried out or
inflected, for the purpose of discipline, training or control, by a teacher,
school administrator ,an adult, or any other child who has been given or
has assumed authority or responsibility for punishment or discipline. It
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includes physical, humiliating or degrading punishment, including but not
limited to the following:
a) Blows such as, but not limited to, beating, kicking, hitting, slapping,
or lashing, of any part of a child’s body, with or without the use of
an instrument such as, but not limited to a cane, broom, stick, whip
or belt;
b) Striking of a child’s face or head, such being declared as a “no
contact zone”;
c) Pulling hair, shaking, twisting jounts, cutting or piercing skin,
dragging, pushing or throwing of a child;
d) Forcing a child to perform physically painful or damaging acts such
as, but not limited to, holding a weight or weights for an extended
period and kneeling on stones, salt, pebbles or other objects;
e) Deprivation of a child’s physical needs as a form of punisnment;
f) Delliberate exposure to fire, ice, water, smoke, sunlight, rain,
pepper, alcohol, or forcing the child to swallow substances,
dangerous chemicals,and other materials that can cause discomfort
or threaten the child’shealth, safety and sense of security such as,
but not limited to bleach or insecticides, excrement or urine;
g) Tying up a child;
h) Confinement, imprisonment or depriving the liberty of a child;
i) Verbal abuse or assaults,including intimidation or threat of bodily
harm, swearing or cursing, ridiculing or denigrating the child;
j) Forcing a child to wear a sign, to undress or disrobe, or to put on
anything that will make a child look or feel foolish, which belittles
or humiliates the child in front of others;
k) Permanent confiscation of personal property of pupils, expect when
such pieces of property pose a daner to the child or to others; and
l) Other analogous acts.
Positive and Non-Violent Discipline of Children P a g e 10 | 22
16. – is a way of
thinking and a holistic, constructive and pro-active approach to teaching
that helps children develop appropriate thinking and behavior in the short
and long-term and fosters self-dicipline. It is baswed on the fundamental
principle that children are full human being with basic humanrights.
Positive discipiline begins with setting the long-term goals or impacts that
teachers want to have on their pupils adult lives, and using everyday
situation and challenges as opportunities to teach life-long skills and
values to pupils.
II.
A. Code of Conduct for School Personnel
The School shall follow all stipulated behavioral protocols and prohibitions
as stipulated under DepEd Order No. 40, s. 2012, but will also require all teaching
and non-teaching personnel to follow the following school based code of conduct:
DO’s
DON’Ts
1. Don’t label a child because of his socio-economic status and don’t deny
inclusion of a child because he or she is unkempt.
2. Don’t use sarcasm and ridicule as a quick fix to discipline children nor
victimize pupils by lowering their grades or issuing demerits due to previous
negative encounter with parents.
3. Don’t show lack of emphaty and concern for pupils well being especially
when they are faced with sadness, grief of difficult situation.
4. Don’t use physical, force and aggression or any form of corporal punishment
to reprimend of discipline children nor send children out of class because of
disruptive behaviors.
5. Don’t create division among children because of abilities, residence in
cathment areas and economic ststus.
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6. Don’t send all behavioral problems to the principal. Teachers who refuse to
use their initiative and come up with alternative forms of discipline tend to
lose total respect from their pupils and parents. As a matter of fact,
behavioral problems usually escalate.
7. Don’t send messages or insulting notes to parents and don’t consistently
inform parents via text or letter of the negative behaviors of children.
8. Don’t exclude children from class parties, examinations, trips, etc., when
they cannot contribute payments. Moreover, don’t accept bribe and gifts
from parents to give extra attention to their children.
B.
B Code of Conduct for Visitor
DO’s
1. All visitors must report to the office of the principal upon arrival at the
school and must sign the visitor’s register og logbook including the
time of arrival and departure and the purpose of the visit
2. Visitors who wish to deal financial matter or any matter taht nay tend
to excite or influence to any school personnel must arrange such
transaction during off hours at noontime or after school in the
afternoon.
DON’Ts
1. All visitors are forbidden to smoke within the school premises. The
“NO SMOKING” policy shall at all time be observed.
2. Don’t make noise that would disturb the tranquility of the school
campus nor damage or misuse school propperty and property of all
who are inside the school campus.
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3. No visitors shall be allowed to touch or communicate to any school
children. In case of emergency where visitors need to pass along or
within the school campus, after informing school personnel of such
need, must stay out the soonest possible.
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4. Don’t lend or borrow money or any orther precious articles. If
possible don’t bring anything of value, jewerly or large amount of
money to school.
5. Don’t make loud noise or create confusion in the class.
6. Never dare to abuse, harass, intimidate, humiliate or bully in any form
towards anybody.
DO’S
1. Always secure parent’s condent whenever there is plan to take children
outside the school campus. If possible, invite parents to accompany or
watch their children during the activity.
2. Orient every puil on what may happin annd what they should do before,
during, and after the activity.
3. Inform the concerned swchool official and the parents while the activitry
is in progress.
4. When taking a ride, always be the last to board and first to ger off to
ensure everybody/everything is in order.
5. After the activity, make sure that pupils are with teheir parents.
Exhaust all means to contact parents confirming the safe arrival of
pupils in their respective homes.
DON’TS
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1. Don’t take childrenona school trip without getting the proper
authorization and in addition don’t modify the itinerary of tripafter
approval has been granted.
2. Don’t presume children can take care of themselves. Without limiting
the right of children to self-discovery, be always near to them to assist
in their needs.
3. If possible, dont sleep with your pupils. School personnel should avoid
impropriety and the appearance of impropriety at all times.
4. In any activity that involves contest andaward, school personnel should
never show dislike or degrade any defeated pupil. Teachers are not
allowed to employ machination or stealth that unknowingly corrupts the
innocent minds of pupils.
III. Case
A. School Child Protection Committe (CPC)
Management
BUENAVENTURA A. DUQUE : Chairperson
LILIBETH I. BUENTIPO. : Vice Chairperson
DIVINA A. BENITEZ : Representative of Teachers
SAMSON JALAPADAN : Representative of Parents
JUNIE ELLORIN : Representative from the Community
ALEXA JANE L. SILVA : Representative of Pupils
B. Function of school Child Protection Committe
1. Draft a school child protection policy with a codeof conduct and a
plan to ensure child protection and safety , which shall be reviewed
every three (3) years;
2. Initiate information dessemination programs and organize activities
for the protection of children from abuse, exploitation, violence,
discrimination and bullying or peer abuse;
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3. Develop and implement a school-based referral and monitoring
system.
4. Establish a system for identifying students who may be suffering from
significant harm based on any physical, emotional or behavioral signs;
5. Identify, refer and , if appropriate, report to the appropriate offices
casess involving child avuse, exploitation, violence, discrimination
and bullying;
6. Give assistance to parents or guardians, whenever necessary in
securing expert guidance counseling from the appropriate offices or
institutions.
7. Coordinate closely with the Women and Child Protection Desks of
thePhilippine National Police (PNP), the Local Social Welfare and
Development Office (LSWDO), as may be appropriate;
8. Monitor the implementation of positive measures and effective
procedures in providing the necessary support of the child and for
those who care fo the child;
and
9. Ensure that the children’s right to be heard are respected and upheld in
all matters and procedures affecting their welfare.
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iv. The decision of the School Head may be appealed, as provided
in existing rules of DepEd.
2. Implementation of Non-Punitive Measures
Depending on the gravity to the bullying committed by any pupil, the School
may impoose other non-punitive measures, in lieu of punitive measures, in
accordance with the principles ot Positive and Non-Violent Discipline.
i. Child Abuse
ii. discrimination against children
iii. child Exploitation
iv. Violence Against Children in School
v. Corporal Punishment
vi. Any analogous or similar acts
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b. Investigation and Reporting. The conduct of investigation
and reporting of cases of child abuse, exploitation, violence or
discriminition, shall be done expeditiously, as herein provided:
i. The School Head, upon receipt of the complaint, shall forward
the same within forty-eight (48) hours to the Schools
Division Superintendent.
ii. If a complaint is not sufficient in form, the School Head shall
immediately inform the complaint of the requirements of a
formal complaint. Upon the filling of the complaint, the same
shall be acted upon pursuant to the preceding paragraph.
5. Jurisdiction. Complaints of child abuse, violence, discrimination,
exploitation, bullying and other acts of abuse under this Child Protection
Policy shall be within the exclusive jurisdiction of DepEd, and shall not be
brought for amicable settlement before the Barangay, subject to existing
laws, rules and regulations. Complaints for acts committed by persons not
under the jurisdiction of the Disciplinary Authority of DepEd shall be
reffered to appropraite authorities.
6. Confidentiality. In the child abuse, violence, discrimination, exploitation,
bullying or peer abuse and other acts of abuse by a pupil, the identity or
other information that may reasonably identity the pupil, whenever victim or
offender, shall be withheld from the public to protect his or her privacy.
On the other hand, the Magna Carta for Public School Teachers
protects the rights of teachers and no publicity shall be given to any
disciplinary action against a teacher during the pendency of his or her
case.
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Approved: FEBRUARY 2, 2021
Pisaan Elementary School, Naga, Zamboaga Sibugay
LILIBETH I. BUENTIPO
Vice Chairperson
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