FOR the past week, the bad news in schools hit the headlines. A 20-year-old Grade 11 student gunned down a 24-year-old Filipino teacher in Balabagan, Lanao del Sur. In Nueva Ecija, an 18-year-old Grade 10 pupil was involved in the shooting of a 15-year-old classmate. In Iligan City, a Grade 3 students was attacked by five high school students and is now in critical condition. A principal was gunned down by an unidentified gunman in front of a school in Cotabato. There are other incidents that may have happened but did not reach the headlines.
This article will not overstate these sad incidents of violence in schools. It will deepen the incidents of violence in schools.
The bullying experience
An informal survey was conducted in my Facebook page and asked the experience of bullying; 2,984 (48.9 percent) out 6,100 responded that they experienced bullying in elementary, 1,929 (31.6 percent) experienced it in high school and 516 (84 percent) experienced it in college. Eighty-nine percent of the respondents cited having experienced bullying.
Out of 3,900 respondents, 1,684 (43.1 percent) cited classmates as the bully. Alarmingly, 611 (15.6 percent) out of 3,900 cited their teachers as their bully. Of the 3,900 respondents, 3,382 (86.7 percent) claim to have been bullied.
Violence screaming in silence
Bullying is a serious violence occurring in the classrooms.
The Philippines had the highest percentage of bullying among all participating countries and territories (OECD, 2019). This trend was replicated, although lower, in the PISA 2022 assessment although the percentage was lower in this round of assessment (OECD, 2023).
Sixty-five percent of Filipino students reported being victims of any type of bullying at least a few times in a month, with 40 percent being bullied frequently (once a week or more) (PISA 2019). One out three Filipino students are being bullied in schools (PISA 2022). This is about 43 percent of girls and 53 percent of boys in the Philippines encountering bullying incidents multiple times a month. This is much higher than the OECD average of 20 percent of girls and 21 percent of boys.
This is an alarmingly high prevalence, and there is a strong possibility that the actual bullying incidents are underreported.
The data shows, however, that from 2013 (the year the Anti-Bullying Law was passed) to 2018, the number of reported bullying cases surged from 1,158 to 20,172 (Department of Education [DepEd]).
Bullying studies completed
A team of De La Salle University (DLSU) scholars led by Dr. Bernardo noted that tackling bullying calls for school-wide anti-bullying approaches. Bullying is not just one thing. We need to look at it as sustaining and supporting the whole school environment. The need for programs ranging from education and prevention, to handling consequences of bullying for victims, perpetrators and witnesses.
The DLSU study highlighted how the school structure and environment, and the level of support they get from adults, can predict exposure to bullying among students.
Bullying is more prevalent in public schools with large class sizes, discriminatory teacher behavior, and lower levels of competition and discipline (Nob, et al.). Bullying is also more widespread in public schools with a higher percentage of students coming from lower socioeconomic environments.
One of the studies developed a digital visualization tool using data from the 2019 PISA report to map bullying hot spots in the country. Regions 13 (Caraga) and 4B (Mimaropa) were identified to have the highest incidence of bullying, followed by Regions 12 (Soccsksargen), 5 (Bicol Region) and 1 (Ilocos Region) (Cordel, et al., 2019).
The DLSU team recommended for EdCom to push for amendments to the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 10627, strengthening the provisions related to the Child Protection Committee, improving systems for reporting bullying cases and clarifying DepEd’s structures and systems related to bullying.
Bullying in virtual space
Being connected online means that school no longer ends once a student leaves class, and neither does bullying. Almost three-quarters of young people from 30 countries said that social networks, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter, are the most common platforms for online bullying (Unicef, 2019).
One in three young people in 30 countries said they have been a victim of online bullying, with 1 in 5 saying they skipped school due to cyberbullying and violence (Unicef, 2019).
In the Philippines, latest national data show that cyberviolence affects almost half of children ages 13 to 17.
One-third of cyberviolence experienced by Filipino children are in the form of verbal abuse over the internet or cell phone, while a fourth are through sexual messages.
Effects of violence
Violence against children has devastating effects on the physical and emotional well-being of young people. This can create lasting emotional and psychological scars, even physical harm. It is particularly challenging to address since children are vulnerable and have easy access to the internet, making them easy targets of online violence.
Filipinos who are bullied often deal with mental health concerns like depression and anxiety, and experience both traditional physical bullying and relational cyberbullying (Baloloy et al.). Other factors influencing bullying include psychosocial issues and the learner’s environment, such as school safety, relationships with their parents and their prevailing attitudes toward bullying.
Call for action
Unicef is calling for urgent action to implement policies that will protect children and young people from bullying — both online and offline. Establishing and equipping national helplines to support children and young people in reporting violence is a concrete step. Training teachers and parents to respond to and prevent bullying will ensure the safety of children and young people, particularly the most vulnerable ones.
Gathering better data about the online behavior of children and young people, and how criminals are using the internet, will guide policies and action plans.
Unicef is also urging social media and social networking service companies to improve ethical standards and practices in collecting and managing information of children.
Suicide: Most pressing public health problem
It is estimated that about 700,000 individuals annually commit suicide (World Health Organization [WHO], 2021). In 2019, suicide was noted as the fourth leading cause of death among individuals 15- to 29-year-olds across the globe. More than half of global suicide cases (77 percent) occurred in low- and middle-income countries (WHO, 2021).
In the Philippines, the rate of suicide was 2.5 per 100,000 population in 2019 (Department of Health, 2019).
Suicide attempts among the youth in the Philippines increased to 7.5 percent in 2021 from 3 percent in 2013, representing an increase of 150 percent (Boiser, 2022). Likewise, about 20 percent of young Filipinos considered suicide, representing about 5 million young individuals (Boiser, 2022, Ramos, 2023).
Early identification and management have been recommended by the WHO (2021) and Unicef, et al. (2022) as a cornerstone for responsive care to people affected by suicidal behaviors. There may be sparse mental health professionals in developing countries. For instance, there is only one guidance counselor for every 13,400 students in public schools in the Philippines, far from the ideal ratio of one for every 500 students endorsed by the Philippine Guidance and Counseling Association.
Schools are supposed to be the second home of children. A haven of learning. A safe space — not only for learners but for teachers and everyone in it.
-END –
SOURCE: The Manila Times
This article will not overstate these sad incidents of violence in schools. It will deepen the incidents of violence in schools.
The bullying experience
An informal survey was conducted in my Facebook page and asked the experience of bullying; 2,984 (48.9 percent) out 6,100 responded that they experienced bullying in elementary, 1,929 (31.6 percent) experienced it in high school and 516 (84 percent) experienced it in college. Eighty-nine percent of the respondents cited having experienced bullying.
Out of 3,900 respondents, 1,684 (43.1 percent) cited classmates as the bully. Alarmingly, 611 (15.6 percent) out of 3,900 cited their teachers as their bully. Of the 3,900 respondents, 3,382 (86.7 percent) claim to have been bullied.
Violence screaming in silence
Bullying is a serious violence occurring in the classrooms.
The Philippines had the highest percentage of bullying among all participating countries and territories (OECD, 2019). This trend was replicated, although lower, in the PISA 2022 assessment although the percentage was lower in this round of assessment (OECD, 2023).
Sixty-five percent of Filipino students reported being victims of any type of bullying at least a few times in a month, with 40 percent being bullied frequently (once a week or more) (PISA 2019). One out three Filipino students are being bullied in schools (PISA 2022). This is about 43 percent of girls and 53 percent of boys in the Philippines encountering bullying incidents multiple times a month. This is much higher than the OECD average of 20 percent of girls and 21 percent of boys.
This is an alarmingly high prevalence, and there is a strong possibility that the actual bullying incidents are underreported.
The data shows, however, that from 2013 (the year the Anti-Bullying Law was passed) to 2018, the number of reported bullying cases surged from 1,158 to 20,172 (Department of Education [DepEd]).
Bullying studies completed
A team of De La Salle University (DLSU) scholars led by Dr. Bernardo noted that tackling bullying calls for school-wide anti-bullying approaches. Bullying is not just one thing. We need to look at it as sustaining and supporting the whole school environment. The need for programs ranging from education and prevention, to handling consequences of bullying for victims, perpetrators and witnesses.
The DLSU study highlighted how the school structure and environment, and the level of support they get from adults, can predict exposure to bullying among students.
Bullying is more prevalent in public schools with large class sizes, discriminatory teacher behavior, and lower levels of competition and discipline (Nob, et al.). Bullying is also more widespread in public schools with a higher percentage of students coming from lower socioeconomic environments.
One of the studies developed a digital visualization tool using data from the 2019 PISA report to map bullying hot spots in the country. Regions 13 (Caraga) and 4B (Mimaropa) were identified to have the highest incidence of bullying, followed by Regions 12 (Soccsksargen), 5 (Bicol Region) and 1 (Ilocos Region) (Cordel, et al., 2019).
The DLSU team recommended for EdCom to push for amendments to the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 10627, strengthening the provisions related to the Child Protection Committee, improving systems for reporting bullying cases and clarifying DepEd’s structures and systems related to bullying.
Bullying in virtual space
Being connected online means that school no longer ends once a student leaves class, and neither does bullying. Almost three-quarters of young people from 30 countries said that social networks, including Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter, are the most common platforms for online bullying (Unicef, 2019).
One in three young people in 30 countries said they have been a victim of online bullying, with 1 in 5 saying they skipped school due to cyberbullying and violence (Unicef, 2019).
In the Philippines, latest national data show that cyberviolence affects almost half of children ages 13 to 17.
One-third of cyberviolence experienced by Filipino children are in the form of verbal abuse over the internet or cell phone, while a fourth are through sexual messages.
Effects of violence
Violence against children has devastating effects on the physical and emotional well-being of young people. This can create lasting emotional and psychological scars, even physical harm. It is particularly challenging to address since children are vulnerable and have easy access to the internet, making them easy targets of online violence.
Filipinos who are bullied often deal with mental health concerns like depression and anxiety, and experience both traditional physical bullying and relational cyberbullying (Baloloy et al.). Other factors influencing bullying include psychosocial issues and the learner’s environment, such as school safety, relationships with their parents and their prevailing attitudes toward bullying.
Call for action
Unicef is calling for urgent action to implement policies that will protect children and young people from bullying — both online and offline. Establishing and equipping national helplines to support children and young people in reporting violence is a concrete step. Training teachers and parents to respond to and prevent bullying will ensure the safety of children and young people, particularly the most vulnerable ones.
Gathering better data about the online behavior of children and young people, and how criminals are using the internet, will guide policies and action plans.
Unicef is also urging social media and social networking service companies to improve ethical standards and practices in collecting and managing information of children.
Suicide: Most pressing public health problem
It is estimated that about 700,000 individuals annually commit suicide (World Health Organization [WHO], 2021). In 2019, suicide was noted as the fourth leading cause of death among individuals 15- to 29-year-olds across the globe. More than half of global suicide cases (77 percent) occurred in low- and middle-income countries (WHO, 2021).
In the Philippines, the rate of suicide was 2.5 per 100,000 population in 2019 (Department of Health, 2019).
Suicide attempts among the youth in the Philippines increased to 7.5 percent in 2021 from 3 percent in 2013, representing an increase of 150 percent (Boiser, 2022). Likewise, about 20 percent of young Filipinos considered suicide, representing about 5 million young individuals (Boiser, 2022, Ramos, 2023).
Early identification and management have been recommended by the WHO (2021) and Unicef, et al. (2022) as a cornerstone for responsive care to people affected by suicidal behaviors. There may be sparse mental health professionals in developing countries. For instance, there is only one guidance counselor for every 13,400 students in public schools in the Philippines, far from the ideal ratio of one for every 500 students endorsed by the Philippine Guidance and Counseling Association.
Schools are supposed to be the second home of children. A haven of learning. A safe space — not only for learners but for teachers and everyone in it.
-END –
SOURCE: The Manila Times