The Department of Education (DepEd) welcomes the signing of the anti-bullying law (RA10627) which protects students from bullying and other forms of violence that may be inflicted by adults, persons of authority as well as their fellow students.

Education Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC said the landmark piece of legislation further enhances the DepEd’s existing Child Protection Policy which puts primacy on the well-being of children. “The anti-bullying law is a big boost in our continuing push to develop our schools into safe and caring, learner-centered institutions,” he added.

DepEd will begin drafting the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Anti-Bullying Law in consultation with stakeholders from other sectors.

Under the measure, public and private elementary and secondary schools are required to address bullying and provide a safer environment for students. Schools that fail to impose such measures will face administrative sanctions from the DepEd.

Under the DepEd’s current Child Protection Policy guidelines, all public, as well as private, elementary and secondary schools should create a Child Protection Committee, composed of school officials, teachers, parents, students and community representatives.

However, DepEd officials reminded teachers that the anti-bullying policy also applies to them. Under DepEd Order Number 40 series of 2012, teachers who humiliate students face administrative sanctions.

Considered as bullying are practices once considered by teachers as appropriate and necessary for discipline such as scolding students in front of classmates and punishing misbehaving students by requiring them to stand and face the wall.

“Bullying and other forms of violence in schools should be viewed not just a school problem but as a societal problem as well,” Luistro explained.