In commemoration of National Chidlren's Month, let us keep in mind DepEd Order No. 40, series of 2012 on Zero Tolerance Policy for any act of child abuse in schools. The landmark order is entitled "Deped Child Protection Policy", it led to greater advances to protect school children.
Bullying which was dismissed as mundane and petty quarrel among children has now become a case of violence and abuse. Along with the common and incessant "pang-aasar (annoyance) and pang-iinis (teasing), pagiging siga or astig (tough) and pananakit (hurting)." Likewise, corporal punishment, previously justified in the context of discipline has also become a form of abuse.
DepEd explicitly orders that violence and abuse in any form, physical, psychological, emotional or mental shall be categorically illegal. DepEd believes that a child will not learn in a place where violence and abuse prevail, a Child Friendly School should be promoted. Under this scheme teachers are enjoined to use non-threatening styles of discipline in school, and the schools to institute policies against discrimination in gender, cultural origin, social status, religious beliefs among others. Schools are also ordered to know and respect the rights of the child and integrate this into the modules or curriculum.
