BULLYING remains a pressing concern for students in some Philippine schools, including Abellana National School (ANS) in Cebu City.
According to several Grade 8 ANS students, incidents of bullying persist in various forms, often affecting students’ sense of safety and comfort within the classroom.
Although anti-bullying policies are in place, students say the problem continues. While some experience verbal abuse, others encounter physical bullying that can have a lasting emotional impact.
Grade 8 student Carlyle Jay Salem said bullies often hurl insults on students’ appearance or personal traits.
“The common types of bullying are physical and through words, like bullying someone for their appearance or for something they hate about a certain student,” Salem said.
He also proposed a way for the school to improve its response to bullying.
“For me, to prevent bullying, there should be security guards stationed throughout the school who can discipline and prevent students from bullying other,” he suggested.
Fellow Grade 8 student Claresse T. Saldivar shared an incident she witnessed. She recounted seeing a schoolmate visibly shaken after being made fun of.
“Yes, I noticed it when I saw that kid sobbing uncontrollably because his classmate made fun of him,” she said.
She also encouraged students to be more mindful of their actions and interactions with others.
“They should be patient and make compromises if they did something wrong. Choose your friends wisely, and I hope that they will learn to show more respect for others,” Saldivar said.
The Department of Education (DepEd) has implemented national guidelines aimed at preventing and responding to bullying in schools. The Child Protection Policy requires schools to establish a Child Protection Committee and designate clear reporting procedures for bullying cases.
At the school level, Abellana National School has policies that promote discipline and intervention. According to students, teachers and staff take immediate action when bullying is observed.
Cyle Andrew A. Lodia, another Grade 8 student, said teachers and staff at Abellana National School are quick to respond to bullying incidents.
“Yes, bullying is taken seriously here. Every time a teacher or school personnel sees someone being bullied, the guilty student is brought to the guidance office. It is not tolerated,” Lodia said.
He also shared his views on how bullying should be handled.
“Schools can make their anti-bullying efforts effective by imposing stronger consequences to help bullies realize the harm they’re causing,” he added.
Despite these efforts, students say bullying still occurs, especially in less monitored areas of the school, such as hallways and open spaces during breaks. Some suggest that increasing supervision, organizing regular awareness activities and forming peer support groups may help create a safer school environment.
Teachers and school administrators are encouraged to continue working closely with students, guidance counselors and parents to identify patterns of bullying and respond accordingly. Increasing student awareness and encouraging open communication are also key steps in improving the situation.
While efforts are ongoing, students say there is still work to be done to make schools truly safer and more inclusive for everyone. Acher Heartlee Gilamon /Abellana National School