ABSTRACT
Abuses are the realities that we humans carry with us throughout our lives. Much of it happens in families and schools. Children could be scared for life. They suffer much more when they are victims of sexual and physical abuse. Rejection, exclusion, abuse, and hurt feelings during childhood could shape and mold one’s character. Some cope better than others. Abused children could be crippled emotionally and psychologically, they may experience depression, and some take their own lives. On the extreme side, some children are even murdered on live videos viewed by pedophiles across the globe.
Abused children carry the memories into late adult life because as children they are unable to challenge and confront their abusers and demand justice. The culture of ignoring the individual personality and rights of children is part of this injustice.
Some of these children might grow up with a grudge and an unfulfilled desire for justice. As a result, they seek revenge. When whole communities are oppressed and exploited, they may become angry and seek redress through protests which may then lead to confrontation and violence.
But are those laws really and wholeheartedly implemented and beneficial to children? In the Philippines, experience shows that mostly they are not.
Some police officers, prosecutors, and judges are more favorable to the abusers than to the children. More accused child abusers and rapists are allowed to go free than are convicted. The reasons are many: corruption, bribery, favoritism, lack of respect for the law, and the incompetence of authorities. There are still, however, some honest and hardworking judges. But they are all too few.
Children cannot and should not have to wait years for justice. Justice based on clear evidence is essential for healing. Children get witness fatigue and despair from the long and winding court procedures.
This policy paper aims to provide information on the implementation of the Department of Education’s Child Protection Policy in Tibagan High School of Makati City. Collaborative governance will be used during the conduct of the research. This will also assess the participation of the internal and external stakeholders. Moreover, due to the increasing cases of abuses in every school in the country, the Department of Education (DepEd) has intensified efforts to protect students in the wake of reports of widespread cases of abuses in both public and private schools.
There are several factors that pushed the researcher to conduct this research. First, the issue on the effectiveness of the implementation of the child protection policy. Second, accordingly it has been a dilemma to the teachers since child protection policy will create a gap in the classroom management between the educators and the learners. Third, the issue of the sustainability of the implementation and how it is being conduct since its implementation last May 2012. Lastly, as part of the new public management the researcher would like to know its impact to the society whereas we are living in a traditional society.
The objective of the policy is to observe and promote zero tolerance on any act of child abuse, exploitation, violence, discrimination, bullying and other forms of abuse in school. Since the school or institution is considered as the second home of the children. Once a child is inside the school he/she must be protected by the care of the teachers based on the principle of the loco parentis.
The DepEd's "Policies and Guidelines on Protecting Children in School from Abuse, Violence, Exploitation, Discrimination, Bullying and Other Forms" was launched last May 3, 2012. The policy guidelines have listed down the specific acts that constitute child abuse and violence which public and private schools can use as a guide in addressing this silent but very real social problem," Luistro explained. "The guidelines aim to protect the child from all forms of violence that may be inflicted by adults, persons of authority as well as their fellow students, including bullying.
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