Prompt action

Glory Vi T. Yonzon

AS FAR as our culture is concerned, there is simply no place for discrimination to thrive. The Department of Education believes this too, as it took prompt action on a learning material which wrongly depicted Igorots.

According to the agency, it is a government institution mandated to protect and promote quality, equitable, culture-based, and complete basic education. Therefore, it doesnottoleratediscriminationbasedonrace,gender, age, religion, or sexual orientation.”

The DepEd said it immediately pulled out the said material from circulation, upon learning of its error. It was a good thing that the document has not been distributed to learners. Kudos to the swift action of the field office concer ned.

What is quite perplexing was that the document’s draft was still undergoing quality assurance procedures when it was inadvertently reproduced by some school personnel. Additional protocols should be put in place to avoid this incident in the future.

Meanwhile, the DepEd said various issuances guided by international and national frameworks on equality have been released, while a series of trainings to uphold a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination were alsoconducted.

The DepEd said the journey to ensure that education promotes equality and respect for each other still has a long way to go. That is why it is committed to do its part to eliminate discriminatory practices in schools and of f i ces.

DepEd assured that “mechanisms are in place” in the Department to police such acts, but it enjoined the public to address such practices.

Government institutions, local government units, media, sectoral leaders, community members, parents, and other stakeholders should be one with the DepEd to help creating a “safer, more respectful environment” for children, for this not the department’s duty alone.

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The author is Teacher I at Basa Air Base Elementary School, Floridablanca, Pampanga.