DepEd urges parents to spot red flags to help curb school violence

The Department of Education (DepEd) is urging parents and guardians to take a more active role in preventing school violence, saying the home is the “first line of defense” against threats to learners.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara said in a statement on Monday that families should maintain regular communication with their children and coordinate closely with schools to identify warning signs before these escalate into violence or bullying.

“Hindi natin kayang solusyunan ang karahasan sa mga paaralan kung sa loob lang ng classroom tayo kumikilos. Ang tahanan ang ating unang depensa,” Angara said.
(We cannot solve violence in schools if we act only inside the classroom. The home is our first line of defense.)

He urged parents to talk to their children daily, listen to what they are going through, and watch for changes in their behavior.

“Kailangan nating matutunang mapansin ang mga red flags at pagbabago sa kilos ng bata bago pa man umabot sa pananakit o bullying.”
(We need to learn to recognize red flags and changes in a child’s behavior before these lead to violence or bullying.)

DepEd said it is expanding its Kaagapay Program, which provides parent communities with training on identifying red flags, managing behavioral concerns, and coordinating with school Child Protection Committees and guidance personnel.

The program is also being integrated with the Parent Effectiveness Service Program under Republic Act No. 11908, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The department is conducting parent-and-teacher learner protection sessions from July to November in several regions, covering issues including bullying and cyberbullying, online sexual abuse and exploitation of children, online safety, and violent extremism.

DepEd said the sessions will also equip parents with technology-based protective tools and information on reporting and referral mechanisms when concerns arise.

At the school level, the department is coordinating with Parent-Teacher Associations and School Governing Councils to incorporate parent education into existing learner protection efforts.

Angara stressed that protecting children from violence requires cooperation among families, schools and communities.

“Shared accountability ang pagprotekta sa ating mga mag-aaral.”
(Protecting our learners is a shared responsibility.) —RF, GMA News