CHR: PNP, DepEd should work together amid incidents of school violence

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Tuesday called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to consult and work with the Department of Education (DepEd) in protecting children in educational settings amid the series of violent incidents in schools.

"The Committee on the Rights of the Children, in its General Comment No. 14 (2013), underscored the need to satisfy the State's obligation by appropriately integrating and consistently applying the framework of the child's best interest in all matters that may directly or indirectly impact them," the CHR said in a statement.

While the commission acknowledged the intent of the PNP to protect the welfare of the students, it nevertheless noted that there was still the need to uphold the government's obligations as a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and as embodied in our domestic laws, "and seek balance in upholding safety in educational institutions by further studying the implications of this proposal."

The CHR noted that in 2021, the DepEd released a statement discouraging the presence of armed police in schools. Nevertheless, the commission believed that these policies, together with consultations, provide the necessary means to foster a setting conducive to child development and learning.

The CHR also maintained its full support for the DepEd’s Rights-Based Education Framework for Philippine Basic Education, which aims to instill among learners their intrinsic human rights and that of others.

Moreover, as an Ombud for Children, the CHR reminded the public that child development was a multisectoral responsibility, in which, apart from the government, families and communities must also engage the children through empathy and open communication.

Among the incidents that had caused the CHR be concerned were the stabbing by a 15-year-old, the death of a 12-year-old following a fatal accidental shooting, and the reported bomb threats received by several elementary and high schools. — DVM, GMA Integrated News