Following the circulation of a viral video involving Grade 11 learners at Columban College Senior High School in Olongapo City, the Department of Education (DepEd) once again issued a warning that its strict zero-tolerance policy against bullying is strictly being implemented.
Accordingly, education secretary Juan Edgardo ‘Sonny’ Angara stressed that “the public is assured DepEd SDO is taking a proactive stance of zero-tolerance against bullying as a learner-centered institution.”
“We at DepEd assure all stakeholders that victims of bullying will never be alone and will always have a ready steady hand for relief and assistance,” Angara avowed.
To cite the Columban High School episode, he clarified that the incident occurred on July 8 and involved one victim and two identified perpetrators, while the video surfaced online only on July 15.
“The victim, through a parent, sought assistance from the Schools Division Office as early as July 9 and has since been receiving continuous support, including medical assistance, free psychological services, guidance counseling and an alternative mode of learning while recovering,” Angara pointed out.
Additionally, imediate interventions, psychosocial assistance and formal disciplinary proceedings for the perpetrators have already been initiated to address the issue and beyond this, DepEd has likewise sought the school’s cooperation in strengthening physical security for its students.
In the meantime, the Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC) backed DepEd’s proposal to seek P8 billion from Congress to hire security guards after Angara disclosed that only 2,494 security guards currently serve at least 48,000 public schools nationwide.