Continuing commitment towards children’s rights protection

Reynaldo A. Bacani

THE Department of Education (DepEd) is continuing with its commitment to uphold every Filipino learner’s right to education, in line with the celebration of National Children’s Month last November.

The DepEd said its vision states that the Department is committed to being learner-centered. All efforts, reflections, projects and hard work are centered on the child. As a public institution, the agency continuously improves to better serve stakeholders, who are the children – and with the children at the center, child rights should also be at center stage.

One of the highlights of the summit held on Nov 23 to 24 was the “Learners’ Hour – Kwentuhan Kasama si Lola Liling at mga Mag-aaral,” which gave an opportunity for learners to ask questions directly to Secretary Briones or “Lola Liling” about the implemented policies and future plans of the education agency towards upholding their rights in education amidst the current pandemic.

The Summit convened learners from junior and senior high schools in different regions of the country, DepEd officials and personnel, representatives of other government agencies, NGOs, business, media, and other stakeholders in education, who listened to statements of commitment and support of education stakeholders from public and private institutions who work together towards the protection of the rights of children.

The theme of the summit was “Isulong! Karapatan ng Bawat Bata sa Edukasyon sa Panahon ng COVID-19”, with a statement of hope and vision for the Filipino learners.

According to the DepEd, along with the Philippine government, civil society, the private sector, the media, and all sectors of society, reaffirms its commitment to respect, protect, fulfill and promote the rights of the child in education in normal times and in emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic.

The DepEd hopes that children and learners will claim and exercise their rights as children, and for all Filipino children to enjoy their rights in education regardless of circumstances.

--oOo-

The author is Teacher II at Betis National High School