IRR of RA 10627 Highlights:
- Coverage clarified to cover:
- Public and private
- Kindergarten
- Elementary
- Secondary Schools
- Learning Centers
- “Bullying” includes:
- social bullying: belittling another individual or group
- gender-based bullying: bullying on the basis of perceived or actual sexual orientation or gender identity
- “Cyber-bullying includes:
- texting
- instant messaging
- chatting
- internet
- social media
- online games
- Learning center defined as facilities for learning programs for out-of-school youth and adults
- Schools to have prevention program that is comprehensive, multi-faceted, and shall involve all education stakeholders and personnel. This may contain:
- Positive school climate/environment
- Periodic assessment and monitoring of bullying behaviors
- Periodic review of manual of conduct for both students and personnel, in relation to bullying
- Activities on the issue for students, personnel and service providers
- Personnel development
- Coordination with LGUs and other stakeholders
- Classroom initiatives
- Activities involving parents
- Schools to have intervention programs to ensure continuity of policies. These may include:
- Activities
- Corrective and preventive, rather than punitive, measures
- Intake Sheet to be accomplished by schools whenever there is an incident of bullying
- Anti-Bullying policy may be part of the schools’ already established child protection policy
- Schools to submit reports prescribed in IRR
- Students have a duty to intervene to protect the victim, unless the same jeopardizes their safety/security
- Students, like teachers, have a duty to report incidents of bullying
- The Child Protection Committee (CPC) established by DepEd Order 40 shall also be the Anti-Bullying Committee
- Composition of Committee:
- School Head/Admin-Chair
- Guidance Counselor/Teacher-Vice Chair
- Rep of teachers designated by faculty
- Rep of parents as designated by PTA
- Rep of students, except in kinder, as designated by student council-optional for private schools
- Rep from community as designated by Punong Barangay, preferably from the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC)
- Jurisdiction for complaints of bullying and other acts under the IRR: exclusive: DepEd or private school and not subject to barangay settlement
- Procedures must include:
- Immediate responses-ANYONE who has personal knowledge must immediately call the attention of ANY school personnel
- School personnel once notified is expected to intervene:
- Stop the bullying immediately
- Remove students from harm and provide medical attention if needed
- Bring the bully to the Guidance Office or designated personnel
- Anonymous reporting to be entertained
- Person reporting to be afforded protection
- Fact-finding and documentation:
- Designated school official to:
- Interview parties involved separately
- Assess threat level, devise intervention strategies
- Inform parents of both parties of the steps to be taken
- Make recommendations to CPC
- Designated school official to:
- CPC to determine the intervention programs for parties involved.
- Schools may refer parties to trained professionals outside the school
- Disciplinary measures must be according to nature, gravity of the bullying and attendant circumstances
- Due process must be observed
- Community service may be a form of punishment if the same is in the rules and regulations of the school
- CPC supervises the intervention programs
- On due process:
- Student and his parents to be informed IN WRITING of the complaint
- Student to be given the opportunity to answer with assistance of parents/guardians
- Decision of the school head shall be IN WRITING, stating the basis thereof
- School head’s decision may be appealed to Division Office of DepEd
- False accusation of bullying also to be sanctioned
- Bullying incidents are confidential and breach thereof by school personnel is likewise sanctioned
- All schools covered to submit a copy of their anti-bullying policy to the Division Office within 6 MONTHS FROM EFFECTIVITY OF IRR (around June this year) (IRR signed December 13, 2013)
- Private schools who fail to comply with law and IRR will be given notice of such failure. They shall be given 30 days to comply. Max 1 month extension allowed in meritorious cases.
END…Other points of RA 1o627 is a mere rehash of contents of law
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