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Sunday, March 26, 2006
Schools tolerating child abuse 'may be closed down'
MANILA -- With continued reports of child abuse incidents in schools despite recent warnings from the Department of Education (DepEd), Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs Bong Montesa reminded school heads and teachers of the law that protects children from any form of abuse.
He warned that schools may also be asked to close down if found guilty of tolerating or promoting child abuse in their premises.
Montesa cited Article VII, Section XI of Republic Act (RA) 7610 that states "all establishments and enterprises which promote or facilitate acts of abuse shall be immediately closed and their authority or license to operate cancelled, without prejudice to the owner thereof being prosecuted under the Act".
He also reminded teachers that if found guilty of abuse, they can be charged and imprisoned.
"The law is very clear about protecting our children from any abuse so I'd like to remind teachers and school officials about this. While cases of child abuse, which we have read in the news may seem to be isolated, we have heard many anecdotal reports of abuse in schools at varying degrees, including sexual abuse, and we'd like to send out the message that we have no tolerance for this," said Montesa.
Montesa appealed to teachers to treat students as their own children.
"These children have been entrusted to us by their parents, for us to look after and educate. When we coerce them and abuse them we are no longer contributing to their development. Then we fail our jobs and we become incompetent to teach and nurture these children," he said.
Montesa, however, admitted the need for a paradigm shift among teachers.
"We have gotten used to old and traditional ways of punishing students for them to learn their lessons. But in this day and age, we have found better and more effective ways of dealing with children other than coercion. We have to learn to change the way we treat our children," he said.
Montesa also reiterated the DepEd's policy against corporal punishment.
DepEd Order No. 92 issued in 1992 states that school officials and teachers have the right to impose appropriate and reasonable disciplinary measures in case of minor offenses and infractions.
It does not, however, permit the use of disciplinary, cruel and physically harmful punishment against any pupil or student.
School officials or teachers who are caught violating the order can be charged, not only administratively, but also criminally.
Incidents of child abuse in schools can be reported directly to the Department of Education DTxT Action Center by texting 2622 (type DEPED FDBK and send to 2622) or by calling hotline number (02) 636-1663. (Sunnex)
(March 26, 2006 issue)
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