DepEd rolls against bullying for Children’s Month
THE Department of Education (DepEd), through its Child Protection Unit, rolled out the celebration of the 30th National Children’s Month with virtual discussions on reducing bullying and securing children’s well-being in schools.
The bullying prevention campaign, with the theme “#KasamaKa: BaLiK-Aral (Boses, Lakas ng Kabataan at Komunidad sa BalikAral),” is part of the Education department’s inclusive effort to raise voices and strength for the mental health of learners with and among the youth and community.
“The virtual kick-off program manifests DepEd’s renewed focus and sustained efforts to invest in our learners and increase their awareness of the importance of mental health,” Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte was quoted as saying in a video message during the launch on November 9 and in a media release issued on Monday.
It is the aim of the bullying prevention campaign to disrupt violent behavior and protect those being bullied by ensuring the function of child protection committees and engaging communities to participate in advocating for child rights and protection.
The campaign theme focuses on three core aspects: “KasamaAko (Adbokasiya Para sa Sarili), KasamaKayo (Adbokasiya para sa Kapwa), and KasamaTayo (Adbokasiya Tungo sa Pagbabago) — advocacy for the self, for others and for change.
At the kick-off program, representatives from the agency’s Child Protection Unit and Youth Formation Division as well as from the nonprofit Stairway Foundation Inc. discussed topics on Understanding Learners’ Self-Concept, Safe Spaces in School Settings, Bullying Prevention, and Child Participation and Youth concerns.
The topics are consistent with DepEd’s theme for National Children’s Month: “Kalusugan, kaisipan, at kapakanan ng bawat bata ating tutukan!” — a focus on the health, mentality and welfare of every child.
DepEd said, “The National Children’s Month aims to acknowledge the magnitude of the mental health concerns among children pre- and during the Covid-19 pandemic and meet and improve the mental health of Filipino children through activities that respond to the categories of children’s rights, among others.”
A 2018 pre-pandemic survey by the Program for International Student Assessment showed 6 out of 10 Filipino high school students, or 65 percent, had experienced bullying, higher than the 23 percent average among 79 countries that took part in the poll.
Under the theme, the celebration will cover four categories of children’s rights — survival rights, development rights, participation rights and protection rights — for the whole month of November.
Simultaneous special celebrations will also be observed in every DepEd Regional Office, Schools Division Office and school.
“Every contribution, whether it’s taking part in a school or community event, looking out for someone being bullied, or raising awareness through conversation makes a difference and changes lives. Look for ways to get involved,” lawyer Suzette GannabanMedina, Child Protection Unit OIC-director, said.