San Roque Elementary School: A Child-Friendly Haven
MAIDEN B. VINLUAN
Pursuant to the 1987 Constitution, the State shall defend the right of children 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. Towards this end, the Department of Education (DepEd), in collaboration with its partners and stakeholders, ensures that all schools are conducive to the education of children. The best interest of the child shall be the paramount consideration in all decisions and actions involving children.
The birth of Child Protection Policy in 2012, known as the Policy and Guidelines on Protecting Children in School from Abuse, Violence, Exploitation, Discrimination, Bullying and Other Forms of Abuse, became an eyeopener to everyone on how fragile and delicate our learners are, thus our learners deserve to be loved and taken with utmost care. Activities and movements had been in the center stage to make our schools a Child-friendly Haven. Hence the adoption of our school on the Happy School Movement which advocates to promote that every school should be a better and enjoyable place to learn.
Happy School fosters a child-friendly atmosphere among all learners. The creation of an environment where learners can voice-out and fully express themselves as well as promote learning in an easy yet affective way of learning is the core of this movement. With the adoption of the Happy School activities anchored on the four pillars of responsive school leadership, relevant classroom instruction, conducive and healthy learning environment and good governance, for sure the ambiance in the school environment will undergo transformation, making it a place that is enjoyable and conducive to all our school children.
As the cliche say “it takes two to tango”, therefore Happy School Movement does not only concern learners but also the teachers and the school administrators. Happy teachers build in a happy environment and mold happy learners.
San Roque Elementary School's Happy School Movement is indeed a very promising transformative advocacy to our school. Keeping in mind that our school children now will soon rule the future, thus let us make sure that our learners learn not just on survival mode or break-even scheme. We should see to it that there is a return of investment on the way they learn and that they become life-long learners, very much ready to conquer the world with happiness in their thoughts, words and actions.
And if this happens, it will be more fun in schools, no children will be left behind and what a child-friendly haven it will be.