SCHOOL – BASED CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

& ANTI- BULLYING POLICY

 1. Introduction
 Anchored in the Department of Education’s Child
Protection Policy, Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, Gender
and Development Education and the Code of Behavior
Guidelines, the school has adopted the following
policies within the framework of the school’s over all
code of conduct.
 The Child Protection Committee (CPC) and the
school populace recognize the very serious nature of
bullying and the negative impact that it can cause on
the lives of the learners and is therefore fully
committed to establish preventive measures and
ensure positive discipline approach to such cases.
 2. Objective
 a. to promote a zero-tolerance policy for the act of
child abuse, exploitation, violence, discrimination,
bullying and other forms of abuse
 b. to nurture a safe and friendly relationship to all
 c. to establish a conducive, secured, fair and
protective environment
 d. to provide non-punitive measures for offensive
actions
 e. to involve parents and stakeholders in crafting,
monitoring and implementing of preventive measures
and positive discipline approach to offenses
 3. Principles
 a. School shall be conducive to learning and children shall have the
right to education free from fear;
 b. All school children shall be protected from all forms of abuse and
bullying to develop self-esteem and self-confidence;
 c. to establish a conducive, secured, fair and protective environment
 d. to provide non-punitive measures for offensive actions
 e. to involve parents and stakeholders in crafting, monitoring and
implementing of preventive measures and positive discipline approach
to offenses

 f. Students or learners shall respect the rights of others and refrain
from committing acts of bullying and peer violence;
 g. Parents shall be actively involved in all school activities or events
that raise awareness on children’s rights, positive discipline, and the
prevention of bullying;
 h. Visitors shall be oriented on the Child Protection Policy
 i. The school shall establish a Child Protection Committee (CPC).
 4. Queries
 What is R.A. No. 10627?
 Answer: Anti-Bullying Act of 2013
 What is Bullying?
 Answer: Bullying refers to any severe or repeated use by one
or more students of a written, verbal or electronic
expression, or a physical act or gesture, or any combination
thereof, directed at another student that has the effect of
actually causing or placing the latter in reasonable fear of
physical or emotional harm or damage to his property;
creating a hostile environment at school for other
student/s; infringing on the rights of another student at
school; or materially and substantially disrupting the
education process or the orderly operation of a school.
 Who is the Bully?
 Answer: Any student who commits acts of bullying.
 Who is the “Bullied” or Victim?
 Answer: Any student who experiences the acts of
bullying or retaliation.
 Who is “Bystander”
 Answer: Any person who witnesses or has personal
knowledge of any actual or perceived acts or incidents
of bullying or retaliation.
 What are the forms of Bullying?
 Answer:
 Cyber Bullying – any bullying done through the use of
technology or any electronic means. The term shall also
include any conduct resulting to harassment, intimidation,
or humiliation, through the use of other forms of
technology, such as, but not limited to texting, email,
instant messaging, chatting, internet, social media, online
games, or other platforms or formats as defined by D.O. no.
40, s. 2012
 Social Bullying – refers to any deliberate, repetitive and
aggressive social behaviour intended to hurt others or to
belittle another individual or group.
 Gender-based Bullying – refers to any act that humiliates or
excludes a person on the basis of perceived or actual sexual
orientation and gender identity.
 What are the acts of Bullying? The following are the
prohibited acts of bullying in the school.
 1. Physical aggression – pushing, shoving, tripping.
 2. Damage to students’ property – clothing, school
books & materials, bicycles.
 3. Extortion – demands for money and other valuable
things.
 4. Intimidation
 5. Writing insulting remarks about another person
 6. Passing around remarks about another person.
 7. Passing drawings, photos of another person.
 8. Whispering insults about another person.
 9. Name calling which hurts, insults or humiliates.
 10. Ostracising another person from games or group
activities.
 11. Threats, demands, invitations or coercion to fight.
 12. Using any type of equipment to cause fear on
another person.
 Cyberbullying
 1. Deliberately hurting someone’s feelings using
information and communication technology such as;
 Emails
 Mobile Phones
 Instant Messaging
 Social Networking Sites- Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
 Chat Rooms – Facebook Messenger
 Blogs
 Online Gaming Sites
 Netiquettes
 Be a responsible netizen and protect yourself from
cyberbullying!
 1. Hide your personal details
 2. React appropriately to hurtful or nasty messages.
 3. Block the sender of hurtful or nasty messages.
 4. Set networking sites and profiles to “private”.
 5. Save nasty links, texts, messages and emails.
 6. Never open messages from someone you know or you
don’t know.
 7. Always ask permission before revealing someone’s else’s
details.
 8. Only give details to trusted friends you know in real life.
 9. Do not give your password to anyone ( with exception of the
parents/guardians).
 10. Change your password often.
 11. Follow netiquette – communicate clearly with respect, use
emoticons properly and be polite.
 12. Data/ Image transfer must respect the rights of the owner.
 13. When using a computer accessing inappropriate sites and/or
social networking sites, uploading or downloading materials that
may be considered offensive to others is strictly prohibited.
 The use of mobile phone/personal media players is not allowed
during or between classes must be switched off and put out of
sight.
 The camera and recording mode must not be used at any time
within the school.
 For instruction purposes, the teacher of the subject must inform
the school administration in writing and must indicate the time
frame and the grade/class who will be using the gadget.

 SANCTIONS:
 If reported or caught committing prohibited acts
 1. The mobile phone or any gadget, complete with the sim-card
or personal media player will be confiscated and kept in the
Guidance office.
 For the first offense – one week
 For the second offense – two weeks
 For the third offense – one month

 *In the case of the first offense, the student may claim the
phone/gadget after one week, however, on the second offense,
the parent/guardian will be asked to claim same after one week.
 2. Refusal to hand over a mobile phone or gadget will result in an
automatic suspension.
 3. For all emergencies, students will be assisted to call
parents/guardians from the office. Similarly parents/guardians
can contact the school in case of an emergency.
 SANCTIONS FOR BULLYING ACTS
 These may be imposed after a due process. Having made a
thorough and fair investigation of the offense and having
given the offender the right to answer such alleged act.
 1. Detention with a meaningful purpose (Academic
assignments)
 2. Non-academic assignments during break time.
 3.Placement in a different class/section.(Following
discussion with the adviser, subject teachers, and
parents/guardians.
 4.Letter of information, warnings of being sent to
parents/guardians.
 5. Dialogue with parents/guardians.
 5. Suspension
 6. Expulsion as the last resort.
The school reserves the right to apply its Anti- bullying
policy in respect of the bullying that occurs at a location,
activity, function or program that is not school related, if
it is in the opinion of the School Head and Child
Protection Committee (CPC), that the alleged bullying
has created a hostile environment in the school for the
victim and/or has materially or substantially disrupted
the education process or the orderly operation of the
school.
 In all cases where a penalty is imposed on the bully or
offending students, the following minimum
requirements of due process shall be complied with:
 a) The student and the parents or guardians shall be
informed of the complaint by calling them at the
school head office
 The student and the parent shall be given the
opportunity to come, to the office to answer the
complain;
 c) The decision of the school head shall be in writing,
stating the facts and the reasons for the decision; and
 Immediate response
 Notify school personnel any act of bullying
 Stopping the bullying or retaliation immediately
 Separating the pupils involved
 Removing the victim or in appropriate case, the bully
or offending student from the site
 Ensure victims safety by :
 a. addressing immediate safety
 b. medical attention if needed
 c. bringing the bully to the guidance office.
 A victim, bystander or school personnel who receives
information about incidents of bullying shall report to
the proper authorities
 2. Fill up the Intake sheet as provided in DepEd Order
No. 40 s. 2012
 If the bullying involved other schools the school that
was first informed will inform promptly the school
head of the other school
 4. Anonymous report of incident of bullying shall be
entertained however, that no disciplinary
administrative action shall be taken with out any
other evidence.
 Fact- Finding and Documentation
 1. Separate interview in private the bully or offending
student and the victim
 2. Determine the level of threats and develop intervention
strategies.
 3.Inform the victims and the parents or guardian of the
steps to be taken to prevent any other further acts of
bullying or retaliation.
 4. Make appropriate recommendations to the Child
Protection Committee.

 Intervention
 The CPC shall determine the appropriate programs for the
victim, the bully and bystanders. School heads shall
ensure that these are provided to them.
 Referral

 The school head and CPC may refer the victims to the
following:
 trained professional outside the school such as:
 a. social worker guidance counselor psychologist
 Women and Child Protection Desk (WPCD)
 Disciplinary Measures
 1.School head considering the gravity or severity, previous
incidents of bullying may impose reasonable disciplinary
measures.
 2. Written reprimand, community service, suspension,
exclusion, or expulsion in accordance with existing rules
and regulations of the school or of the Department for
public schools may be imposed.
Any information relating to the identity and personal
condition of the bully, victim, or bystander shall be
treated with highest confidentiality by the Child
Protection Committee and the school personnel.
Any school personnel who violate the rule of
confidentiality shall be subject to proper administrative
disciplinary action in accordance with the existing policy
and regulations of the Department of Education or the
private school, without prejudice to any civil or criminal
action.
 School Children are the future heir of this challenging
world,

 With this landmark child protection policy,

 Let’s help each other to greatly reduce,

 if not outright prevent the occurrence of violence

against children in school.

 Through our united efforts, we can make this happen…