DepEd cites importance of safe environment for students

MANILA -- The Department of Education (DepEd) underscored on Thursday the importance of providing a safe environment for students.

This means that teachers should not only nurture the students, but also ensure that their rights are protected from any form of abuse.

To further support DepEd Order (DO) No. 40 s. 2012 (Child Protection Policy) and the Republic Act 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination), the agency has created DO No. 131 s. 2016 or the Training and Designation of DepEd Child Protection Specialists (CPS).

With this DO, the DepEd trains and designates CPS to guide schools on how to address child abuse cases based on child protection-related laws. CPS are also tasked to refer child abuse cases to concerned agencies for proper interventions.

Currently, there are 290 DepEd CPS in the country.

Three batches will undergo the second level of training on February and March. Trainees will come from different regions.

DepEd Undersecretary Alberto Muyot said the agency wants the trainees to be knowledgeable on holistic approaches to child protection.

Meanwhile, to help the department in conducting the second level of training next month, the Consuelo Zobel Alger Foundation recently donated 1,500 "Breaking the Chain of Violence Against Children: A Specialized Training Course for DepEd Child Protection Specialists" manuals to the agency.

These manuals will serve as a guide on providing technical advice, advocating for child protection as well as a guide in referring child abuse cases.

Also, the manuals contain modules and references to DO 40 and RA 7610, DepEd said. (PNA)