Bullying still a ‘silent, persistent’ problem in schools – EDCOM
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Bullying, particularly in Metro Manila, continues to be a perennial issue in Philippine schools, the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) revealed.
In its Year Two report released Monday, EDCOM sounded the alarm regarding bullying cases among students despite the existing policies and efforts to protect them and to address bullying incidents.
“Bullying continues to be a silent and persistent issue in basic education, with the country ranking as the ‘bullying capital of the world’ due to the high prevalence of bullying reported by students,” the EDCOM said in its report.
Citing the 2018 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), the commission noted that 65% of Grade 10 students in the Philippines experienced bullying a “few times” a month, which was the highest among all participating countries.
In the 2022 PISA, there was a slight decline in reports, but it was emphasized that one in three students still faced weekly bullying.
However, the resolution of bullying cases in the Philippines seemingly “moved at a glacial pace,” with only 38 out of 339 (11%) of the reported cases getting resolved between November 2022 and July 2024, based on data by the Department of Education’s (DepEd) Learner Rights and Protection Office.
The regions with the most number of reported cases were the National Capital Region, followed by Calabarzon and Central Luzon. Meanwhile, Mimaropa, Bangsamoro Region, and Soccsksargen only had one reported case each.
“This disparity may not necessarily reflect actual differences in the incidence of bullying but rather the effectiveness of the reporting mechanisms in place. It suggests that some regions may have more robust reporting systems, while others may need improvement to ensure that all cases are accurately reported and addressed,” the commission explained.
Despite the majority of the reported cases involving physical bullying, the EDCOM pointed out that bullying could also be done through other forms that includes verbal, relational, and cyberbullying.
It recommended an amendment of the implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 10627 or the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013, which it described as “outdated and not responsive to school level realities.”
“[S]ince its release more than a decade ago, there has not been any policy on revisions to DepEd DO 55, s. 2013, also known as the IRR of the Anti-Bullying Act, despite significant and numerous policy developments. These subsequent policies, while strengthening the overall child protection framework have not been reviewed and understood in relation with the Anti-Bullying Act,” the commission said.
“This gap becomes more critical given the changing context of the learning environment, particularly with the rise of cyberbullying incidents that go beyond the limited definition provided in the original IRR, and the lack of standardized implementation guidelines for schools in handling such cases,” it added.
The EDCOM said that it has convened a technical working group, which includes representatives from the DepEd, child protection advocates, educational researchers, and other stakeholders, to work on the revision of the IRR.
The EDCOM II is the congressional body created through Republic Act 11899, tasked to undertake a comprehensive national assessment and evaluation of the performance of the Philippine education sector from 2023 to 2025.
Its Year Two report, “Fixing the Foundations: A Matter of National Survival”, builds upon the critical issues identified in its first report, “Miseducation: The Failed System of Philippine Education.”
Education Secretary Sonny Angara has expressed gratitude to the EDCOM II and the Congress for their continued support to DepEd, and emphasized the importance of aligning efforts with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to address the gaps in the Philippine education system.
“[The] EDCOM has been a galvanizing force, I think. I think no one really thought how good or how excellent or what good quality its outputs would be. It has been a pleasant surprise to all of us,” Angara said in a speech during the launch of the report.—RF, GMA Integrated News