SC holds school liable for negligence in bullying incident

The Supreme Court (SC) has held a school civilly liable for negligence after it failed to address a bullying incident during class.

In a 16-page decision promulgated in January, the SC Second Division found that the school failed to address a punching incident wherein two students repeatedly punched a classmate during class while the teacher was in the comfort room.

The court said that though the victim reported the incident, no meaningful action was taken. 

After the victims’ parents filed a formal request for investigation, the school concluded that the incident was mere “teasing” or “rough play.”

“By failing to address the harm committed by one student against another and by negligently handling the punching incident after it had already happened, [the school] failed to exercise the diligence of a good father of the family in providing a safe learning environment to its students,” the SC said.

“Notably, every parent who entrusts their child to a learning institution does so with the assurance that the school, owing to its obligations not only to provide but also to maintain a safe learning environment, will protect the child from harm or will promptly address similar incidents after its (sic) occurrence,” it added.

Meanwhile, the SC ordered the school to pay the victims P300,000 as moral damages, P200,000 as exemplary damages, and P150,000 as attorney’s fees.

The SC said the amounts shall earn legal interest at the rate of 6% per annum from the finality of the decision until full payment.—LDF, GMA Integrated News