Resources

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

I. RATIONALE

Pursuant to the Philippine Constitution, the State shall protect the right of children to assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and special protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and other conditions prejudicial to their development.

All educational institutions shall inculcate patriotism and nationalism, foster love humanity, respect for human rights, appreciation of the role of national heroes in the historical development of the country, teach the rights and duties of citizenship, strengthen ethical and spiritual values, develop moral character and personal discipline, encourage critical and creative thinking, broaden scientific and technological knowledge, and promote vocational efficiency.

Under Article 218, 220, and 233 of the Family Code of the Philippines and PD 603 (The Child and Youth Welfare Code), the school, its administrator and teachers, or the individual, entity, or institutions engaged in child care, shall have special parental authority and responsibility for the minor child under their supervision, instruction or custody. Authority and responsibility shall apply to all authorized activities whether inside or outside the premises of the school, entity, or institution.

Further, the Convention on the rights of the child (CRC) aims to protect children from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury, and abuse, neglect or negligent treatment, maltreatment and exploitation, including sexual abuse. The government shall take measures to encourage regular attendance in school and reduce drop-outs pursuant to the right of the child to education.

Lastly, Kalinga National High School strengthens the significance of empowering and educating children on their rights, personal safety and steps they can take, if there is a problem; and integrating child protection into all aspects of the teaching strategy, curriculum and cultural practices through the policies in this contextualized manual in cognizance of the three core values of Kalinga; Paniyaw, Ngilin and Bain.

II. GUIDING PRINCIPLES

A. The DepEd Vision

We dream of Filipinos

who passionately love their country

and whose values and competencies

enable them to realize their full potential

and contribute meaningfully to building the nation.

As a learner-centered public institution,

the Department of Education

continuously improves itself

to better serve its stakeholders.

B. The DepEd Mission

To protect and promote the right of every Filipino to quality, equitable, culture-based, and complete basic education where:

Students learn in a child-friendly, gender-sensitive, safe, and motivating environment.

Teachers facilitate learning and constantly nurture every learner.

Administrators and staff, as stewards of the institution, ensure an enabling and supportive environment for effective learning to happen.

Family, community, and other stakeholder are actively engaged and share responsibility for developing life-long learners

C. Our Core Values

Maka-Diyos Maka-tao Makakalikasan Makabansa

III. POLICY STATEMENT

This contextualized Child Protection Policy (CPP) handbook is based on the Constitution, international conventions, statutes, and DepEd issuances. It serves as a guide for the effective implementation of the child protection policies contained therein in all schools and learning centers in conformity with standard procedures that are gender and culturally sensitive.

IV. SCOPE/ COVERAGE

This handbook shall apply to all:

a. Employees of the Department of education;

b. Employees and learners of Kalinga National High School; and

d. Parents, guardians, visitors, and other stakeholders

V. DEFINITION OF TERMS

As used in this manual, the following are defined as follows:

A. Child

• it includes students or learners who maybe eighteen (18) years of age or older but are in school.

B. Pupil, Student or Learner

• This means a child who is enrolled in basic education, and regularly attends classes at any level of the basic education system, under the supervision and tutelage of a teacher or facilitator.

C. School Personnel

• Means the persons, singly or collectively, working in the school. They are classified as follows:

C.1 School Head

• Refers to the Chief Executive Officer or administrator of a public or private school or learning center. The person responsible for the administrative and instructional supervision of the school or cluster of schools.

C.2 Other School Officials

• Include other school officers, including teachers who are occupying supervisory positions or positions of responsibility, and are involved in policy formulation or implementation in a school.

C.3 Academic Personnel

• Includes all school personnel who are formally engaged in actual teaching service or in research assignments, either on a full-time or a part-time basis, as well as those who possess certain prescribed academic functions directly supportive of teaching, such as registrars, librarians, guidance counselors, researchers, and other similar persons. They may include school officials, who are responsible for academic matters, and other school officials who are responsible for academic matters, and other school officials.

C.4 Other Personnel

• Includes all other non-academic personnel in the school, whatever maybe the nature of their appointment and status of employment.

D. Child Protection

• Refers to programs, services, procedures and structures that are intended to prevent and respond to abuse, neglect, exploitation, discrimination and violence.

E. Parents

• Refers to biological parents, step-parents, adoptive parents and the common-law spouse or partner of the parent.

F. Guardian or Custodians

• Refers to legal guardians, foster parents and other persons, including relatives or even non-relatives, who have physical custody of the child.

G. School Visitor or Guest

• Refers to any person who visits the school and has any official business with the school, and any person who does not have any official business but is found within the premises of the school. This may include those who are within the school premises reasons. (e.g. student teachers, catechists, service providers, suppliers, bidders, parents and guardians of other children).

H. Child Abuse

• Refers to the maltreatment of a child, whether habitual or not, which includes any of the following:

1) psychological or physical abuse, neglect, cruelty, sexual abuse and emotional maltreatment;

2) any act by deeds or words which debases, degrades or demeans the intrinsic worth and dignity of a child as a human being;

3) unreasonable deprivation of the child's basic needs for survival, such as food and shelter; or

4) failure to immediately give medical treatment to an injured child resulting in serious impairment of his or her growth and development or in the child's permanent incapacity or death (RA 7610).

I. Discrimination against children

• Refers to an act of exclusion, distinction, restriction or preference which is based on any ground such as age, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation and gender identity, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, being infected or affected by Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), being pregnant, being a child in conflict with the law, being a child with disability or other status or condition, and which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by all persons, on an equal footing, of all rights and freedoms.

J. Child exploitation

• Refers to the use of children for someone else's advantage, gratification or profit often resulting in an unjust, cruel and harmful treatment of the child. These activities disrupt the child's normal physical or mental health, education, moral or social emotional development. It covers situations of manipulation, misuse, abuse, victimization, oppression or ill-treatment.

There are two (2) main forms of child exploitation that are recognized:

1. Sexual exploitation — refers to the abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes. It includes, but it is not limited to forcing a child to participate in prostitution or the production of pornographic materials, as a result of being subjected to a threat, deception, coercion, abduction, force, abuse of authority, debt bondage, fraud or through abuse of a victim's vulnerability.

2. Economic exploitation — refers to the use of the child in work or other activities for the benefit of others. Economic exploitation involves a certain gain or profit through the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services. This includes, but is not limited to, illegal child labor, as defined in RA 9231.

K. Violence against children committed in schools and authorized off- campus school activities.

• Refers to a single act or a series of acts committed by school administrators, academic and non-academic personnel against a child, which result in or is likely to result in physical, sexual, psychological harm or suffering, or other abuses including threats of such acts, battery, assault, coercion, harassment or arbitrary deprivation of liberty. It includes, but is not limited to, the following acts:

1. Physical violence refers to acts that inflict bodily or physical harm. It includes assigning children to perform tasks which are hazardous to their physical well-being.

2. Sexual violence refers to acts that are sexual in nature. It includes, but is not limited to:

a) rape, sexual harassment, acts of lasciviousness, making demeaning and

sexually suggestive remarks, physically attacking the sexual parts of the victim's body;

b) forcing the child to watch obscene publications and indecent shows or forcing the child to do indecent sexual acts and/or to engage or be involved in, the creation or distribution of such films, indecent publication or material; and

c) acts causing or attempting to cause the child to engage in any sexual activity by

force, threat of force, physical or other harm or threat of physical or other harm or coercion, or through inducements, gifts or favors.

3. Psychological violence refers to acts or omissions causing or likely to cause mental or emotional suffering of the child, such as but not limited to intimidation, harassment, stalking, damage to property, public ridicule or humiliation, deduction or threat of deduction from grade or merit as a form of punishment, and repeated verbal abuse.

4. Other acts of violence of a physical, sexual or psychological nature that are prejudicial to the best interest of the child.

L. Bullying

• Refers to any severe or repeated use by one or more students of a written, verbal or electronic expression, or a physical act or gesture, or any combination thereof, directed at another students that has the effect of actually causing or placing the latter in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm or damage to his property; creating a hostile environment at school for the student; infringing on the rights of another student at school; or materially and substantially disrupting the education process or the orderly operation of a school; such as, but not limited to, the following:

1. Any unwanted physical contact between the bully and the victim like punching, pushing, shoving, kicking, slapping, tickling, headlocks, inflicting school pranks, teasing, fighting, and the use of available objects as weapons;

2. Any act that causes damage to a victim’s psyche and/or emotional well-being;

3. Any slanderous statement or accusation that causes the victim undue emotional distress like directing foul language or profanity at the target, name-calling, tormenting and commenting negatively on victim’s looks, clothes, and body;

4. “Cyber-bullying” or any bullying is done through the use of technology or any electronic means. The term shall also include any conduct resulting in harassment, intimidation, or humiliation, through the use of other forms of technology, such as but not limited to texting,email, instant messaging , chatting internet, social media, online games, or other platforms or formats as defined in DepEd Order No. 40, s. 2012; and

5. The term “bullying” shall also include:

a) “Social bullying”- refers to any deliberate, repetitive, and aggressive social behavior intended to hurt others or to belittle another individual or group.

b) “Gender- based bullying”- refers to any act that humiliates or excludes a person based on perceived or actual sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI)

M. Other acts of abuse by a pupil, student or learner

• Refers to other serious acts of abuse committed by a pupil, student or learner upon another pupil, student or learner of the same school, not falling under the definition of 'bullying' in the preceding provisions, including but not limited to acts of a physical, sexual or psychological nature.

N. Corporal Punishment

• Refers to a kind of punishment or penalty imposed for an alleged or actual offense, which is carried out or inflicted, for the purpose of discipline, training or control, by a teacher, school administrator, an adult, or any other child who has been given or has assumed authority or responsibility for punishment or discipline. It includes physical, humiliating or degrading punishment, including, but not limited to the following:

1. Blows such as, but not limited to, beating, kicking, hitting, slapping, or lashing, of any part of a child's body, with or without the use of an instrument such as, but not limited to broom, belt; stick, whip a cane, or

2. Striking of a child's face or head, such being declared as a "no contact zone";

3. Pulling hair, shaking, twisting joints, cutting or piercing skin, dragging, pushing or throwing of a child;

4. Forcing a child to perform physically painful or damaging acts such as, but not limited to, holding a weight or weights for an extended period and kneeling on stones, salt, pebbles or other objects;

5. Deprivation of a child's physical needs as a form of punishment;

6. Deliberate exposure to fire, ice, water, smoke, sunlight, rain, pepper, alcohol, or forcing the child to swallow substances, dangerous chemicals, and other materials that can cause discomfort or threaten the child's health, safety and sense of security such as, but not limited to bleach or insecticides, excrement or urine;

7. Tying up a child;

8. Confinement, imprisonment or depriving the liberty of a child;

9. Verbal abuse or assaults, including intimidation or threat of bodily harm, swearing or cursing, ridiculing or denigrating the child;

10. Forcing a child to wear a sign, to undress or disrobe, or to put on anything that will make a child look or feel foolish, which belittles or humiliates the child in front of others;

11. Permanent confiscation of personal property of pupils, students or learners, except when such pieces of property pose a danger to the child or to others; and

12. Other analogous acts.

O. Positive and Non-Violent Discipline of Children

• is a way of thinking and a holistic, constructive and pro-active approach to teaching that helps children develop appropriate thinking and behavior in the short and long-term and fosters self-discipline. It is based on the fundamental principle that children are full human beings with basic human rights. Positive discipline begins with setting the long-term goals or impacts that teachers want to have on their students' adult lives, and using everyday situations and challenges as opportunities to teach life-long skills and values to students.

P. Gender

• refers to the social attributes and opportunities associated with being male and female and the relationships between women and men and girls and boys, as well as the relations between women and those between men. These attributes, opportunities, and relationships are socially constructed and are learned through socialization processes. (UN Women)

Q. Gender equality

• Refers to the principle asserting the equality of men and women and their rights to enjoy equal conditions realizing their full human potentials to contribute to and benefit from the results of development, and with the state recognizing that all human beings are free and equal in dignity and rights. (MCW)

R. Gender expression

• Refers to the way in which a person acts to communicate gender within a given culture; for example, in terms of clothing, communication patterns and interests. A person's gender expression may or may not be consistent with socially prescribed gender.

S. Extra – curricular Activity

· Activity not falling within the scope of regular curriculum.

e.g. Scouting, City/Provincial/ sponsored activities. Other government/non - government agency sponsored activities such as DOH, PSA, DOLE, DA, LGU and the like.

T. Curricular Activities

· Activities prescribed and related to the curriculum. It includes all related activities done in the teaching and learning process such as immersion, conduct of researches and the like.

U. Co – curricular Activities

· It complements the regular curriculum. It includes sports, journalism, Division Festival of Talents (DFOT), Regional Festival of Talents (RFOT), National Festival of Talents (NFOT) and the like.

V. Paniyaw

· The Kalinga people believe in God called “Kabunyan” who is the creator of all things and the master of life and death. “Mampaniyaw” is the restriction on oneself acts looked upon as degrading, immoral and punishable by the mighty “Kabunyan”.

W. Ngilin

· It is strict adherence to taboos regarding social and economic activities. It is also involving compliance with certain rituals to protect oneself and the members of the family from illness or harm. “Mangngilin ka” means avoid doing evil is a common advice of the elders.

X. Bain

· It was interpreted as “feeling shame.” The act of showing respect to other people as a fellow human being. It has a similar meaning to the virtue espoused by the saying of Confucius: Do not do unto others if you would not like others to unto you.”

VI. RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF STUDENTS/ LEARNERS

A. Rights

1. Convention on the Rights of a Child

a. Every child has the right to be born well and to be cared and raised well

b. Every child has the right to live with a family who loves, cares; and teaches good morals to him or her;

c. Every child has the right to have proper care and importance from other people;

d. Every child has the right to have the basic needs of people such as food, water, shelter, clothing and health care;

e. Every child has the right to everything he or she needs for a better life;

f. Every child has the right to be educated;

g. Every child has the right to play and enjoy whenever they have the opportunity;

h. Every child has the right to be protected from abuse of adults;

i. Every child has the right to live peacefully away from bad influence;

j. Every child has the right to be cared whenever their parents are not available or cannot sustain their needs;

k. Every child has the right to be living in a good government who helps them strengthen their faith and to become better citizens;

l. Every child has the right to grow up peacefully and getting what they want for the good of their lives.

2. Rights of Learners According to Batas Pambansa No. 232

a. The right to receive, primarily thorough competent instruction, relevant quality education in line with national goals and conducive to the full development as a person with human dignity;

b. The right to freely choose their field of study subject to existing curricula and to continue their course therein up to graduation, except in cases of academic deficiency, or violation of disciplinary regulations;

c. The right to school guidance and counseling services for decisions and selecting the alternatives in fields of work suited to his potentialities;

d. The right to access to his own school record, the confidentiality of which the school shall maintain and preserve;

e. The rights to the issuance of the school certificates, diplomas, transcript of records, grades, transfer credentials and other similar documents within thirty (30) days from request;

f. The right to publish a student newspaper and student publications, as well as the right to invite resource persons during assemblies, symposia and other activities of similar nature;

g. The right to free expression of opinions and suggestions, and to effective channels of communication of the school and institution;

h. The right to form, establish, join and participate in organizations and societies recognized by the school to foster their intellectual, cultural and spiritual and physical growth and development, or to form, establish, join and maintain organizations and societies for purposes not contrary to law;

i. The right to free expression of opinions and suggestions and to effective channels of communication with appropriate academic channels and administrative bodies of the school or institution;

j. The right to be free from involuntary contributions, except those approved by their own organizations and societies.

B. Privileges

1. Free to join the curricular, co- curricular, and extra-curricular activities upon parents/ guardians’ consent;

2. Avail of the programs being conducted for the learners;

3. When absences cannot be avoided because of sickness, death in the family (immediate), other unavoidable circumstances which can be considered as excused, or for having participated in DepEd initiated or authorized out-of-school activities, the school must give the learner alternative methods and materials that correspond to the topics/ competencies that were or will be missed. These include modules and materials for the Alternative Delivery Mode, and/or Alternative Learning system as well as those that are found on the Learning Resources management and Development System (LRMDS).

4. Use personal gadgets for learning purposes upon the approval and close supervision of the concerned teacher/ adviser/ school head and parents/ guardians.

5. Incentives and scholarships provided by LGU, NGAs, private institutions partners, or school subjects to their respective rules, regulations, and policies.

C. Duties and Responsibilities

A. Learner to Self

1. Exert his/her utmost to develop himself/herself potentialities for service, particularly by undergoing an education suited to him/her abilities, in order to become an asset to him/her family and to the society;

2. Exercise his/her rights responsibly in the knowledge that he/she is answerable for any violation of the public welfare and the rights of others.

3. Conduct himself /herself with his/her level of development, maturity, and demonstrated capabilities with proper regards for the rights and welfare of other persons;

4. Perform his/her work which reflect his/her effort during a test, quiz, or exam. It is his/her responsibility to avoid any form of cheating and undesirable behaviors.

B. Learner to Learner

1. Respect another person’s right regardless of opinion, status, gender, ethnicity, religion, as well as everyone’s moral and physical integrity;

2. Avoid engaging in fights, aggressive behavior, and all forms of bullying;

3. Avoid influencing his/her peers to perform acts contrary to existing laws or school rules and regulations; and

4. Avoid discrimination or leading a group of learners to discriminate against another about one’s physical appearance, weakness, gender, or status of any sort.

C. Learner to school

1. Accomplish curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular tasks and requirements required of or needed from him/her with utmost diligence and competence and submit the latter on or before the due date;

2. Comply with reasonable regulations of the school;

3. Wear school identification cards at chest level at all times in the school campus and during off-campus related activities;

4. Learners shall refrain from:

a) Doing any act that is inappropriate or sexually provocative;

b) Participating in activities of other learners that are illegal, unsafe or abusive;

c) Marking or damaging any school property or facility;

d) Bringing into the school premises prohibited articles such as deadly weapons, drugs, alcohol, toxic, and noxious substances, cigarettes, and pornographic materials;

e) Performing other similar acts that cause damage or injury to another;

f) Doing acts that will destroy the reputation of the school;

g) Falsifying/ forging of documents and signatures;

h) Not observing proper attire and proper haircut; and

i) Committing plagiarism.

5. Compliance to health protocols during Epidemic, Pandemic, Health emergencies such as:

a) Wearing of mask;

b) Observing social/ physical distancing of at least 1-2 meters apart;

c) Maintaining proper hygiene such as regular washing hands and disinfecting of personal things and gadgets, covering mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue when coughing or sneezing, disposal of used tissue immediately, etc.;

d) Exercising regularly and eating healthy foods;

e) Avoiding handshaking, “beso-beso”, unnecessary movement or loitering;

f) Staying in your own space, staying at home when sick.

D. Learner to School Personnel

1. Respect authority of teachers, school administrators, and non-teaching personnel and treat them courteously, respectfully, and obediently.

E. Learner to Environment

1. Keep the school surrounding safe, clean and green at all times.

2. Dispose garbage properly;

3. Conserve water, electricity and other school resources;

4. Protect school properties;

5. Avoid using single-use plastics;

6. Follow environmental laws/ordinances, rules, and regulations; and

7. Participate in socio-civic activities in the community (e.g. Tree planting, growing and caring)

F. Learner to Parents/Guardians/Visitors

1. Relate with parents, guardians, visitors coming to school with respect and courtesy;

2. Inform parents/guardians on meetings, conferences, clean-up drives, Brigada Eskwela, and other school activities as required by the school authorities or the PTA

3. Inform parents/guardians whenever problems arise between learner and teacher and such problem is to be resolved first at the school level.

G. Learner to Society

1. Conduct himself/herself according to acceptable norms, values, customs, culture, and traditions of the society;

2. Participate actively in school-drives or school- sanctioned activities that benefit the community; and

3. Participate in endeavors to realize full potentials to contribute meaningfully to building nation.

VII. LEARNERS’ CORE VALUES

A. Maka-Diyos

1. Expresses one’s spiritual beliefs while respecting the spiritual beliefs of others.

a) Engages oneself in worthwhile spiritual activities;

b) Respect sacred places;

c) Respects religious beliefs of others; and

d) Demonstrates curiosity and willingness to learn about other ways to express spiritual life.

2. Shows adherence to ethical principles but upholding truth.

a) Tells the truth

b) Returns borrowed things in good condition;

c) Demonstrates intellectual honesty;

d) Expects honesty from others;

e) Aspires to be fair and kind to all;

f) Identifies personal biases;

g) Recognizes and respects one’s feelings and those of others.

B. Makatao

1. Sensitive to individual, social and cultural differences.

a) Shows respect for all;

b) Waits for one’s turn;

c) Takes good care of borrowed things;

d) Views mistakes as learning opportunities;

e) Upholds and respects the dignity and equality of all including those with special needs;

f) Recognizes and respects people from different gender, economic, social, and cultural backgrounds.

2. Demonstrates contributions toward solidarity.

a) Cooperates during activities;

b) Recognizes and accepts the contribution of others toward a goal;

c) Considers diverse views;

d) Communicates respectfully;

e) Accepts defeat and celebrates others’ success;

f) Enables others to succeed;

g) Speaks out against and prevents bullying.

C. Makakalikasan

a) Shows a caring attitude toward the environment;

b) Practices waste management;

c) Conserves energy resources;

d) Takes care of school materials, facilities, and equipment;

e) Keeps work area in order during and after work;

f) Keeps one’s work area/ learning space neat and clean;

g) Avoid spitting within the school premises is prohibited because it is detrimental to public health and cleanliness;

h) Avoid smoking cigarette and vaping;

i) Avoid vandalism;

j) Participate in clean and green projects and or other community projects.

D. Makabansa

1. Demonstrate pride in being a Filipino; exercises the rights and responsibilities of a Filipino citizen.

a) Identifies oneself as a Filipino;

b) Respects the flag and national anthem;

c) Takes pride in diverse Filipino cultural expressions, practices;

d) Promotes the appreciation and enhancement of Filipino languages;

e) Abides by the rules of the school, community, and country;

f) Enables others to develop interest and pride in being a Filipino.

2. Demonstrates appropriate behavior in carrying out activities in the school, community and country.

a) Manages time and personal resources efficiently and effectively;

b) Perseveres to achieve goals despite difficult circumstances;

c) Conducts oneself appropriately in various situations;

d) Patronize locally-made products and services.

VIII. ACCOUNTABLE PERSONNEL/ COMMITTEE

a) School Head and Assistant School head

The School Head shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

1. Ensure the institution of effective child protection policies and procedures, and monitor compliance thereof;

2. Develop and maintain a healthy school atmosphere conducive to the promotion and preservation of academic freedom and effective teaching and learning, and to harmonious and progressive school-personnel relationship;

3. Observe due process, fairness, promptness, privacy, constructiveness and consistence in disciplining his teachers and other personnel;

4. Ensure that the school adopts a child protection policy.

5. Ensure that all pupils, students or learners, school personnel, parents, guardians or custodians, and visitors and guests are made aware of child protection policy.

6. Organize and convene the Child Protection Committee of the school;

7. Conduct capacity building activities for the members of the Child Protection Committee and Guidance Counselors/Teachers;

8. Conduct disciplinary proceedings in cases of offenses committed by pupils, students or learners;

9. Ensure that the participatory and other rights of children are respected and upheld in all matters and procedures affecting their welfare;

10. Maintain a record of all proceedings related to bullying, CAR, CICL, and child abuse, and submit reports through the CPP Data Tool / Legal Services Information System (LSIS);

11. Conduct appropriate training and capability building activities on child protection measures and protocols for all school personnel;

12. Ensure that the school adopts a student Code of Conduct to be followed by every pupil, student or learner while in school, or when traveling to and from school, or during a school-sponsored activity, and during break time, whether on or off campus;

13. Adopt such conflict resolution mechanisms that respect the rights of indigenous peoples, provided that they conform to this Department Order and they uphold the rights of the child;

14. Coordinate with the appropriate offices and other agencies or instrumentalities for appropriate assistance and intervention, as may be required in the performance of his/her function;

15. Coordinate with the Department of Social Welfare and Development or, the appropriate government agencies or non-governmental organizations on a Child Protection Hotline for reporting abuse, violence, exploitation, discrimination, bullying and other similar acts for counseling;

16. Ensure that all incidents of abuse, violence, exploitation, discrimination, bullying and other similar acts are addressed in accordance with the provisions of this Department Order.

17. Disciplining authority for the learners.

b) Academic Personnel or Other School Officials

· Articles 218, 220 and 233 of the Family Code of the Philippines, and Presidential Decree No. 603 provides the following responsibilities of the school administrators, teachers, academic, non-academic and other personnel over the children under their supervision, instruction and custody:

1. Exercise special parental authority and responsibility over the child while under their supervision, instruction and custody. Authority and responsibility shall apply to all authorized activities whether inside or outside the premises of the school, entity or institution;

2. Keep them in their company and support, educate and instruct them by right precept and good example;

3. Give them love and affection, advice and counsel, companionship and understanding;

4. Enhance, protect, preserve and maintain their physical and mental health at all times;

5. Furnish them with good and wholesome educational materials, supervise their activities, recreation and association with others, protect them from bad company and prevent them from acquiring habits detrimental to their health, studies and morals;

6. Represent them in all matters affecting their interests;

7. Inculcate the values of respect and obedience;

8. Practice positive and non-violent discipline, as may be required under the circumstances; provided, that in no case shall corporal punishment be inflicted upon them; and

9. Perform such other duties as are imposed by law upon them, as substitute parents or guardians.

· The School personnel shall also strictly comply with the school’s child protection policy.

· Teachers should refrain from making deductions in students’ scholastic rating for acts that are clearly not manifestations of poor scholarship.

c) Other school Personnel

1. Guidance Counsellor/Coordinator – provides counselling, intervention, guidance, referral as necessary, secure records of learner clients, update and report cases and incidents require by CPP and Anti Bullying Policies through Legal Services Information System (LSIS)

2. Department Head – assist the School Head in instruction and discipline of learners

3. Non- teaching personnel

d) Committee

1) Child Protection Committee (CPC)

· It shall compose of the following:

i. School Head/ Administrator- Chairperson

ii. Guidance Counselor/Designate/ Teacher- Vice Chairperson

iii. Representative of the Teachers as designated by the Faculty Club

iv. Representative of the Parents as designated by the Parents- Teachers Association

v. Representative of Students, except in kindergarten, as designated by the Supreme student Council; and

vi. Representative from the Community as designated by the Punong Barangay, preferably a member of the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC). For private schools, a representative from the Community provided in the preceding number shall be optional.

· Child Protection Committee and its Sub- Committee/s as provided under relevant Department of Education issuances who shall ensure that the children’s right to be heard are respected and upheld in all matters and procedures affecting their welfare.

The Child Protection Committee shall perform the following functions:

i. Draft a school child protection policy with a code of conduct and a plan to ensure child protection and safety, which shall be reviewed every three (3) years;

ii. Initiate information dissemination programs and organize activities for the protection of children from abuse, exploitation, violence, discrimination and bullying or peer abuse;

iii. Develop and implement a school-based referral and monitoring system. The template for the referral system;

iv. Establish a system for identifying students who may be suffering from significant harm based on any physical, emotional or behavioral signs;

v. Identify, refer and, if appropriate, report to the appropriate office cases involving child abuse, exploitation, violence, discrimination and bullying;

vi. Give assistance to parents or guardians, whenever necessary in securing expert guidance counseling from the appropriate offices or institutions;

vii. Coordinate closely with the Women and Child Protection Desks of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Local Social Welfare and Development Office (LSWDO), other government agencies, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as may be appropriate;

viii. Monitor the implementation of positive measures and effective procedures in providing the necessary support for the child and for those who care for the child; and

ix. Ensure that the children’s right to be heard are respected and upheld in all matters and procedures affecting their welfare.

x. [Section 9.B, DepEd Order No. 40, series of 2012]

2) Anti- Bullying Committee

· The committee shall have the same composition as Child protection Committee

· In addition to their duties and responsibilities provided by DepEd Order No. 40 s. 2012, the CPC shall perform the following tasks:

a. Conduct awareness- raising programs with school stakeholders in preventing and addressing bullying;

b. Ensure that the anti- bullying policy adopted by the school is implemented;

c. Monitor all cases or incidents related to bullying reported or referred by the teachers, guidance counselor or coordinator or any person designated to handle prevention and intervention measures mentioned by the preceding sections of this IRR; and

d. Make the necessary referrals to appropriate agencies, offices or persons, as may be required by the circumstances.

3) Office of the Prefect of Discipline/ School Discipline Committee headed by the school head which is in charge of resolving student disputes, including investigating complaints and provide resolutions to all student discipline related function. They shall promote discipline according to core values, and provide guidance for the integral development of students’ moral values.

· School Head as Chair

Ø He/she shall serve as prefect of discipline within the curriculum year level.

Ø He/she shall investigate cases listed the offenses punishable by suspension or expulsion.

· Head Teacher as Co-chair

Ø He/she shall serve as co-prefect of discipline within the year level in the absence of School Discipline officer who shall investigate cases listed on the offenses punishable by suspension or expulsion.

Ø He/she shall serve as mediator between the offender and the aggrieved party.

IX. INTERVENTIONS, SANCTIONS, AND PROHIBITED ACTS CLASSIFICATION OF VIOLATIONS

INTERVENTIONS

I. ON ATTENDANCE

q 1-3 days consecutive or not consecutive (unexcused)- inform parents (letter with return slip)

ü Letter of Explanation duly signed by parent/s or guardian/s

ü Adviser- learner conference

q 4-5 days consecutive or not consecutive

ü Referral to Curriculum Heads for conference with Parent/ Guardian

q 6 days or more

ü Referral to the Prefect of Discipline with Adviser, Parent/ Guardian, Curriculum Head or Home visitation by the adviser and/or subject teacher/s (if needed)

*Other appropriate actions depending on the reason/s of absences

II. TARDINESS (15 minutes late)

ü 5 consecutive days of tardiness or less- Teachers shall inform the parents/ guardians through text message/ letter/ or any mode of communication.

ü Occasional- intermittent tardiness for more than five tardiness in a month- Inform parents, promissory note duly signed by learners, parent/s or guardian/s, adviser- learner conference

ü Habitual- five continuous tardiness committed twice in a month or for two consecutive months- home visitation by adviser/ teacher, referral to the guidance designate for counseling

III. CUTTING CLASSES

ü Occasional- not more than twice in a month- inform parents, promissory note duly signed by learner/s, parent/s or guardian/s, adviser- learner conference

ü Habitual- more than twice in a month and/ or twice a month for two consecutive months- a) referral to the curriculum coordinator/ head b) Prefect of Discipline

Note:

ü Absence is different from tardiness but cutting class is absence in a particular subject

ü Those who incurred excused absences will be given make- up activities/ requirements

ü Parents to submit letter of explanation for non- attendance due to religious obligation, and tribal conflicts; medical certificate for sickness.

ü A student who incurs excused or unexcused absences of more than twenty (20 %) percent of the prescribed number of class days in a school year during the school year should be given a failing grade and given no credit for the course or subject to be presented to the School Head.

IV. ON NON- WEARING OF SCHOOL UNIFORM AND SCHOOL ID, AND IMPROPER HAIRCUT

1st Warning: Adviser- Learner Conference (log)

2nd Warning: Parent, Adviser and Curriculum Head Conference

(Promissory Note)

3rd Warning: Refer to the Prefect of Discipline

v Learners from the LGBTQIA+ group may adopt a haircut and attire preference, provided, proper grooming and proper attire is observed.

v Uniform schedule: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday

§ Males- white collared shirt with logo and black slacks, and black shoes

§ Females- baby collared white blouse with ribbon and logo at the left collar (JHS), sports collared white blouse with necktie and logo on it (SHS), and navy-blue skirt with two pleats at the front and back. Black closed shoes (JHS) and at least 1 inch heeled black closed shoes (SHS).

v During Wednesday, students shall wear decent attire. No using of sleeveless, hanging blouse, revealing clothing, crop tops, mini skirt, tattered jeans, shorts and the like.

v In case of heavy rains, students may not use the prescribe shoes.

v Encourage the wearing of school uniform

DISCIPLINARY CASES

1. LIGHT VIOLATIONS

a. Uttering profanities/ swearwords inside the school campus and its immediate premises

b. Going to restricted places as determined by the school without permission

c. Tampering of the school ID card such as placing stickers and other objects on school ID card

d. GRAFFITI- it is the act of scratching, etching, painting, or others form of writing or drawings made on a wall or other surface, usually without permission and within public view.

Violation of local ordinances on littering.

Occurrence

Sanction and intervention

1st Violation

Accomplishment of promissory note noted by the adviser and Curriculum Head in the prefect of discipline office

2nd Violation

Written and conference with parent in the prefect of discipline office/ counseling if needed

3rd Violation

Suspension of one (1) school day and conference with parent

Shall be treated as less grave violations

Referral to proper authorities, institutions, or experts

2. LESS GRAVE VIOLATIONS

a. Cheating such as but not limited to copying the works of other for his/ her own benefit

b. Illegal gambling

c. Immorality, disgracefulness, disrespectful and immoral conduct

d. Intentional display of private parts, except if the individual is mentally ill as certified by a professional

e. Using of gadget/s during class hours without the permission of teacher (i.e. for research purposes is allowed)

f. Posting disrespectful/ unacceptable entries/ comments, unverified statements in the Social Media platforms (cyber-libel)

g. Vandalism (destruction of school property)

h. Hooganism- violent or rowdy behavior by young troublemakers, typically a gang.

Occurrence

Sanction and intervention

1st Violation

Conference with the student, parent/ guardian and CPP and Disciplinary committee.

Accomplishment of promissory note noted by the adviser and Curriculum head in the prefect of discipline office

2nd Violation

Suspension for two (2) school days, conference/ counseling with parents, attendance to any training related to improvement behavior

3rd Violation

Suspension for three (3) schooldays, conference/ counseling with parents, attendance to any training related to improvement of behavior, referral to proper authorities, institutions, or experts

3. MEDIUM GRAVE

a. Bringing, chewing and spitting of “moma” and/or “muskada” inside the school premises.

b. Drinking intoxicants and liquor or entering the school premises under the influence of liquor, or bringing of alcoholic beverages

c. Smoking inside the school premises and bringing tobacco products, vapes, etc.

d. Instigating, leading or participating in concerted activities leading to stoppage of classes; formation of gangs

e. False testimonies during investigation;

f. Medium grave case of bullying

g. Creating trouble among fellow students classified as minor fights

Occurrence

Sanction and intervention

1st Violation

Conference with the student, parent/ guardian and CPP and Disciplinary committee.

Accomplishment of promissory note noted by the adviser and Curriculum head in the prefect of discipline office

Suspension for two (2) school days

2nd Violation

Suspension for three (3) school days, conference/ counseling with parents, attendance to any training related to improvement behavior

3rd Violation

Suspension for four (4) schooldays, conference/ counseling with parents, attendance to any training related to improvement of behavior, referral to proper authorities, institutions, or experts

4. GRAVE

a. Assaulting school personnel or other learners, or any other school authority or his agents;

b. Grave case of bullying

c. Fighting, causing injury to others;

d. Carrying and concealing dangerous or deadly weapons or instruments such as knuckles, ice pick, knife, firecrackers, and the like;

e. Extortion of money or in kind from others;

f. Dependency of prohibited drugs or drug use, possession, and sale of prohibited drugs such as marijuana, ecstacy, shabu, etc. subject to the Guidelines prescribed by DO 40 s. 2012;

g. Engaging in prostitution activities;

h. Forging or tampering with school records/ forms, securing or using forged school documents;

i. Hazing in any form or manner whether inside or outside the school premises as per DO No. 7, s. 2006;

j. Corporal punishment committed by learner/ student who has been given assumed authority or responsibility for punishment or discipline;

k. Identity theft such as using someone’s pictures and name;

l. Serious dishonesty;

m. Patronizing prostitution den, gambling, establishment/ building of ill repute and pornographic places;

n. Possession, bringing in, using, selling and circulating of pornographic materials;

o. Other acts of abuse by a student or learner;

p. Preventing, threatening learners of faculty members or school authorities from discharging their duties or from attending classes or entering school premises;

q. Sexual assault/ harassment/ abuse, Acts of Lasciviousness, Rape;

r. Stealing;

s. Voyeurism;

t. Tsansing, touching of private parts of others;

u. Other analogous acts

Occurrence

Sanction and intervention

1st Violation

Suspension for four (4) school days, conference/ counseling with parents, attendance to any training related to improvement behavior, referral to proper authorities, institutions, or experts

2nd Violation

Suspension for five (5) school days or more but not more than one (1) school year

The decision shall be automatically referred to the School Division Superintendent for approval is suspension is more than five (5) school days

3rd Violation

Suspension for more than one (1) year. The decision and whole records of the case shall be automatically referred to the Secretary for approval

4th Violation

Expulsion. The decision and whole records of the case shall be automatically referred to the Secretary for approval

The following are prohibited sanctions or actions by the school

1. Transfer as sanction in the guise of exclusion;

2. Manual labor such as hauling or transferring of heavy objects; errands outside the school, carpentry works and the like;

3. Fines/ Contributions in cash or in kind;

4. Amicable settlement as prescribed by the, rules and regulations

5. “kultap” for improper haircut

6. On- return of confiscated items except for “moma/muskada”, vape, illegal drugs, weapons or any illegal item, which shall be turned over to appropriate authorities;

7. Corporal punishment, child abuse, discrimination against children/ learners, child exploitation, violence against children;

8. Barring entry to the school during class hours for whatever reason except when learner is under preventive suspension or suspension;

9. Sending out learners outside the classroom or school premise;

10. Demerits in grades/ deduction of scores;

11. Deprivation in any school activity except in sports and other competitions where banning the participant is justified under existing policies.

X. PROCEDURE IN LEARNER’S DISCIPLINE

A. Receipt of a complaint. Any complaint maybe reported verbally, electronically or written by any person who has personal knowledge regarding the situation/ incident (subject teacher/ adviser/ learner) to the Curriculum Head (CH).

B. The Curriculum head shall assess the disciplinary case reported.

C. Disciplinary case classified as less grave, medium grave and grave shall be referred to the Prefect of Discipline/ Child Protection Committee.

D. The Curriculum Head shall inform in writing to the learner through the Parent/ Guardian by personal service or any other means of service within (1) one working day from the date of incident/ report.

E. The answer in writing of the learner with the assistance of the parents/ guardian must be submitted within (1) one working day from receipt of notice.

F. A Notice of conference with parents/ guardian shall be issued within one (1) working day from receipt of Answer. The conference shall be before the School Head if it is a first light offense; otherwise, before the Child Protection Committee/Office of the Prefect of Discipline/ School Discipline Committee:

i. The parties shall be given a chance to be heard. The conferences shall be terminated within 7- working days and a report together with the records of the case shall be submitted to the School Head within three (3) working days from the termination of the conferences.

ii. The conferences must be recorded through a minute of conference duly signed by all the parties and members present.

iii. Preventive suspension

G. The decision in writing shall be issued within the day of conference by the School/ Administrator from termination of the conferences upon receipt of the conference report, which contain the relevant facts, evidences, basis of the decision and the appropriate penalty in case of conviction as follows:

i. Reprimand shall be final and executory.

ii. The decision imposing a penalty of suspension is appealable to the Schools division Superintendent for public schools. The appeal must be made within seven (7) working days from receipt of the decision. The Schools Division Superintendent must resolve the appeal within seven (7) working days. The decision of the Schools Division Superintendent is executory.

XI. CONFIDENTIALITY

The right to privacy of a learner shall be respected at all stages of the proceedings. As such, all records and processes shall be considered privileged and confidential.

All concerned duty-bearers shall undertake all measures to protect the identity of the learner and to uphold the confidentiality of all the proceedings, including non-disclosure to the media.

XII. MONITORING, EVALUATION, REPORTING

Monitoring shall be in accordance with DO No. 40 s. 2012 (DepEd Child Protection Policy), DO 55, s. 2015 (Implementation Rules and Regulations of the Republic Act 10627, otherwise known as the Anti- Bullying Act of 2013), DO No. 74 s. 2012 (Guidelines on the Selection of honor pupils and students of Grades 1 to 10 of the K to 12 Basic education Curriculum), DO No. 92 s.2009 9revised Guidelines on the selection of honor pupils and students in Public Elementary and secondary Schools), and other applicable laws and issuances.

XIII. EFFECTIVITY AND TRANSITORY PROVISIONS

This Contextualized CPP Handhook shall take effect this School Year 2023- 2024 as presented and approved by the school stakeholders. The effectivity of the manual is three (3) years from the date of approval unless revisions shall be made due to updated or new CPP policies.

a) KNHS CHILD PROTECTION COMMITTEE

Chairperson- MILDRED S. CABAY, School Head

Vice Chairperson- MICHELLE C. LICLIC, Guidance Coordinator

Representative of the Teachers- BRENDALYN D. DUMALLEG, KNHSEA President

MARYJOYCE A. GARMING, T III

Non- Teaching Representative- Atty. EMMANUEL F. GARVIDA JR., AO IV

Representative of the Parents- Col. JULIO A. NALLIW JR., PTA President

Representative of the Students- STEPHIE JHON B. LISALIS, SSLG President

Representative from the MAY G. BOLLECER, BCPC- Bulanao

Community- Atty. HENRY B. TUBBAN, BCPC- Bulanao

Norte

b) KNHS DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE

Chairperson- DANILO D. DALUPING, HT III

Vice Chairpersons- BEATRICE M. DINANOG, Asst. Principal II

LALAINE B. YAUN, HT III

Member- Curriculum Heads

Member- Curriculum Coordinators

Member- Advisers

Member- JOHN RICK B. PACAS, Alumni Representative

Member- JASON VINCENT B. BACACAO, Non- Teaching

Representative

References:

GRaNdSDisM- Gender Responsive and Non- Discriminatory Students Discipline Manual. Department of Education- CAR

KNHS Disciplinary Committee and Prefect of Discipline Committee

https://virily.com/culture/culture-and-practices-the-kalinga-ethos/ Date Retrieved: September 11, 2023