Rights in education in the time of COVID-19

Bernard M. Rivera

In light of the annual celebration of the National Children’s Month, the Department of Education (DepEd), together with its dedicated partners, held the Second National Summit on the Rights of the Child in Education on November 23 and 24, 2020, from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

With the theme: Isulong! Karapatan ng Bawat Bata sa Edukasyon sa Panahon ng COVID-19 (Advance the Rights of Every Child in Education in the Time of COVID-19!), the Second National Summit on the Rights of the Child in Education aimed to reinforce the continuing commitment of the Philippine government, including the DepEd, and other stakeholders, in upholding children’s rights, with focus on their rights in the context of education in normal times and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We aim to build on the gains of the First National Summit held last year as we push forward in shaping policies and programs to more strongly promote children’s rights in education. The Summit significantly discussed the importance of upholding rightsbased education (RBE) not only during normal times but also during public emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic,” Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Atty. Josephine Maribojoc said.

Undeterred by the pandemic, the DepEd pushed through with the holding of the Summit, albeit virtually. Supported by UNICEF Philippines, Save the Children Philippines (SCP), Stairway Foundation Inc. (SFI), and DepEd Region X, the Second National Summit was conducted through an online platform attended by less than 1000 virtual participants. There was also a live stream on the DepEd Philippines Facebook Page.

“The DepEd is tirelessly dedicated to upholding children’s rights in education despite the unprecedented times. The COVID-19 pandemic should not be an obstacle in safeguarding the rights of the children in education, such as accessing continuous quality education, remaining physically and mentally healthy, and being safe from violence and abuse in the different learning modalities. Through meaningful whole-ofsociety collaborative efforts, the DepEd continues to respect, protect, and fulfill children’s rights in education with our partner agencies and organizations. Nothing can get in the way of children’s enjoyment of their rights. After all, children continue to be children during the pandemic and they should continue to enjoy their rights,” Usec. Maribojoc emphasized.

The Summit is the highlight event of the DepEd for the National Children’s Month, which is celebrated in November every year. It is also a continuation of the DepEd’s series of programs to promote RBE. In September, the DepEd organized a webinar series on Child Rights and Child Protection in Education to help train DepEd personnel on children’s rights in education during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Another webinar series was conducted by DepEd to help educate parents, guardians, and caregivers on positive discipline in education. These webinar series garnered more than one million total views online.

Participants of the Summit are expected to come from different public and private basic education schools, and the central, regional, and schools division offices. There will also be representatives from other government offices, civil society, and international and private organizations. More importantly, children themselves, as well as parents, guardians, and caregivers of children, will participate in the two-day Summit.

Distinguished speakers in the Summit included Dr. Philip Jaffé who delivered a lecture on the role of child rights in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Jaffé is a member of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Geneva-based body created by the Convention on the Rights of the Child to facilitate the fulfillment of children’s rights. Dr. Robert Jenkins, Global Chief of Education and Associate Director of the UNICEF Headquarters in New York, will also deliver a lecture on the effects of COVID-19 on children’s education around the world and the responses of various countries.

The keynote message was delivered by DepEd Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones. High officials from the three branches of the Philippine government – including Supreme Court Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, and Congressman Roman Romulo as chairpersons of the basic education committees in their respective houses in Congress, and the Office of the President Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Michael Ong – as well as prominent officials in private and international organizations, children-learners and parents were also among the speakers on the rights of the child.

DepEd’s partner organizations have strongly expressed their support for the Second National Summit and for the overall child rights in education goals in the Philippines.

UNICEF highlighted that a rights-based education approach calls for the integration of the right of access to education, the right to quality of education, and the right of every child to have her or his individual human rights respected within the education system. The fulfillment of children’s rights to and within education at all levels can only be achieved by a comprehensive and multisectoral approach.

“UNICEF is proud to be a part of the 2nd National Child Rights in Education Summit as we seek to empower children to claim their right to education, more importantly during emergencies and amid the global pandemic. We urgently need to join forces to tackle learning challenges in the Philippines, ensure education does not stop, build capacities and strengthen equitable access to quality education for all children,” UNICEF Philippines Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov said.

“We believe that RBE is an effective learning approach in teaching Filipino children their basic human rights. In support of this, Save the Children Philippines has published the Gabay sa Mundo ng Karapatang Pambata for Filipino children to better understand the Convention on the Rights of the Child. In line with Save the Children’s ambition for 2030, this year’s summit also covers our global breakthroughs for children: survive – where no child dies from preventable causes before their fifth birthday; learn – where all children receive quality basic education; and be protected – where violence against children is no longer tolerated,” said Atty. Alberto Muyot, Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children Philippines.

https://www.deped.gov.ph/2020/11/23/second-national-summit-on-the-rightsof-the-child-in-education-to-reinforce-upholding-childrens-rights-in-education-in-the-timeof-covid-19/

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The author is Secondary School Teacher - III at Betis National High School,

Guagua, Pampanga