DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF SCHOOLS, TEACHERS, AND STUDENTS UNDER ANTI-BULLYING ACT

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Published — March 14, 2021 

The following post does not create a lawyer-client relationship between Alburo Alburo and Associates Law Offices (or any of its lawyers) and the reader. It is still best for you to engage the services of your own lawyer to address your legal concerns, if any.

Also, the matters contained in the following were written in accordance with the law, rules, and jurisprudence prevailing at the time of writing and posting, and do not include any future developments on the subject matter under discussion.

Aside from this article about duties and responsibilities of schools, teachers and students, read also: ADOPTION OF ANTI-BULLYING POLICIES

• Public or private schools shall adopt and implement a child protection or Anti-Bullying Policy

• Teachers and other school personnel shall participate and cooperate in all prevention related to bullying

• Students shall avoid or refrain from any act of bullying

Maturity is not by age, but the acceptance of your responsibilities. – Anonymous

In our previous article, we wrote about adoption of anti-bullying policies.  Know that before and after the adoption of anti-bullying policies, the responsibility of making and keeping the policy is a collective effort of the school, its teachers, students and other school personnel.

What are the responsibilities of schools under the Anti-Bullying Act?

The law says:

Public and private kindergarten, elementary and secondary schools, through their administrators, principals and school heads, shall:

1. Adopt and implement a child protection or anti-bullying policy in accordance with the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Anti-Bullying Act and submit the same to the Division Office. The anti-bullying policy may be a part of the school’s child protection policy;
2. Provide students and their parents or guardians a copy of the child protection or anti-bullying policy adopted by the school. Such policy shall likewise be included in the school’s student and/or employee handbook and shall be conspicuously posted on the school walls and website, if there is any;
3. Educate students on the dynamics of bullying, the anti-bullying policies of the school as well as the mechanisms for the anonymous reporting of acts of bullying or retaliation;
4. Educate parents and guardians about the dynamics of bullying, the child protection or anti-bullying policy of the school and how parents and guardians can provide support and reinforce the said policy at home;
5. Devise prevention, intervention, protective and remedial measures to address bullying;
6. Conduct the capacity building activities for guidance counselors or teachers and the members of the Child Protection Committees;
7. Ensure effective implementation of the anti-bullying policy and monitor compliance;
8. Ensure the safety of the victim of bullying, the bully, and the bystander and determine the students’ needs for protection;
9. Ensure that the rights of the victim, the bully, and the bystander are protected and upheld during the conduct of the investigation;
10. Accomplish the Intake Sheet whenever there is an incident of bullying, maintain a record of all proceedings related to bullying, and submit reports to the Division Office;
11. Maintain a public record or statistics of incidents of bullying and retaliation;
12. Coordinate with appropriate offices and other agencies or instrumentalities for appropriate assistance and intervention, as required by the circumstances.

What are the responsibilities of Teachers and other School Personnel?

The law says:

Teachers and other school personnel shall:

1. Participate and cooperate in all prevention, intervention and other measures related to bullying implemented by the school;
2. Report to school authorities any incident of bullying; and
3. Perform the duties in the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Anti-Bullying Act.

What are the responsibilities of the Students?

The law says:

Students shall:

1. Participate and cooperate in all prevention, intervention and other measures related to bullying implemented by the school;
2. Avoid or refrain from any act of bullying;
3. Intervene to protect the victim, unless it will jeopardize his safety and security; and
4. Report to school authorities any incident of bullying.

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Alburo Alburo and Associates Law Offices specializes in business law and labor law consulting. For inquiries, you may reach us at info@alburolaw.com, or dial us at (02)7745-4391/0917-5772207.

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