The DepEd Order No. 40, s. 2012 establishes the Child Protection Policy which aims to promote a zero-tolerance policy against child abuse. It outlines prohibited acts against children including various forms of violence, exploitation, discrimination, and bullying. The policy also establishes guidelines for prevention, reporting procedures, and sanctions for non-compliance. Schools have a duty to ensure child protection and set up committees to address complaints, while ensuring confidentiality and referring serious cases to relevant agencies.

1. DepEd Order No. 40, s. 2012
“Child Protection Policy”

2. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

3. DepEd Order No. 40, s. 2012
“Child Protection Policy”

4. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Declaration of Policy
DepEd shall ensure that schools are a safe place for the educ
ation of children. The best interest of the child shall be the p
aramount consideration in all decisions and actions involvin
g children.
The DepEd zero tolerance policy for any act of child abuse, e
xploitation, violence, discrimination, bullying and other form
s of abuse.
4

5. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Violence, Physical, Verbal and Sexual Abuse Infl
icted by Teachers & Other School Personnel
5
GRADE LEVEL TYPE OF ABUSE PERCENTAGE/NO. OF
VICTIMS
I –III
HIGHER GRADE
LEVELS
Physical Abuse
Verbal Abuse
Physical Abuse
Verbal Abuse
3/10
4/10
5/10
7/10
IV-VI Verbal Sexual Violence In
appropriate Touching
36.53%
11.95%
High School Verbal Sexual Violence
Inappropriate Touching
42.88%
17.60%

6. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
DEPED’s RESPONSE
DepEd launched its Child Protection Policy on May
3, 2012, through DepEd Order No. 40, s. 2012, t
o promote a zero-tolerance policy for any act of
child abuse, exploitation, violence, discrimination
, bullying and other related offenses
DepEd conducted a nationwide information dissem
ination campaign and is currently conducting a
series of training of trainers (ToT)
6

7. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
OVERVIEW OF THE DEPED CH
ILD PROTECTION POLICY
D.O. No. 40, s. 2012
7

8. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Prohibited Acts
a. Child abuse;
b. Discrimination against children;
c. Child exploitation;
d. Violence against children in school;
e. Corporal punishment;
f. Any analogous or similar acts; and
g. Bullying or peer abuse
8

9. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Violence against children committed
in schools
refers to a single act or a series of acts committed by
school administrators, academic and non-academi
c personnel against a child which result in or is likel
y to result in physical, sexual, psychological harm o
r suffering, or other abuses including threats of suc
h acts, battery, assault, coercion, harassment or ar
bitrary deprivation of liberty. It includes, but is not li
mited to the following acts:
1. Physical violence
2. Sexual violence
3. Psychological violence
4. Other acts of violence
9

10. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Corporal Punishment
• refers to a kind of punishment or penalty i
mposed for an alleged or actual offense, w
hich is carried out or inflicted, for the purpo
se of discipline, training or control, by a tea
cher, school administrator, an adult, or any
other child who has been given or has ass
umed authority or responsibility for punish
ment or discipline.
10

11. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF SCHOOLS
Ensure the institution of effective child protection policies a
nd procedures and monitor compliance thereof;
Adopt a child protection policy, and organize and convene t
he Child Protection Committee (CPC) of the school;
Conduct the capacity building activities for the members of
CPC and Guidance Counselors/Teachers;
Ensure that the participatory and other rights of children are
respected and upheld in all matters and procedures affec
ting their welfare;
Coordinate with appropriate offices, agencies or instrument
alities for appropriate assistance and intervention
11

12. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
PREVENTIVE MEASURES:
Capacity Building of School Officials, Personnel, Parents & Stud
ents
Strategies:
Conducting sessions, trainings and seminars on positiv
e peer relationships and enhancement of social and
emotional competence;
Using training modules which include positive and non-
violent discipline in classroom management and gen
der sensitivity;
Integrating and teaching children’s rights in the classro
om.
12

13. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
PROCEDURE: Protective and Remedial Measures to Address Corporal Pu
nishment and Other Acts of Violence Committed by School Personnel
Expeditious conduct of investigation and reporting of cases;
School Head or the Schools Division Superintendent shall f
orward the complaint within 48 hours to the Disciplining
Authority, who shall issue an Order for the conduct of a
fact-finding investigation, not later than 72 hours from s
ubmission;
If the person complained of is a non-teaching personnel, th
e Schools Division Superintendent shall cause the cond
uct of a fact-finding investigation within the same period;
13

14. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
PROCEDURE: Protective and Remedial Measures to Address Corporal Pu
nishment and Other Acts of Violence Committed by School Personnel
Criminal and civil liability shall not be a bar to the filing of an
administrative case;
The Revised Rules of Procedure of DepED in Administrativ
e Cases shall apply in all other aspects;
The identity or other information that may reasonably identif
y the pupil or student shall remain confidential; and
The identity of a respondent-teacher shall likewise be kept
confidential.
14

15. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Assessment & Referral of Victims to the Local Social Welfare a
nd Development Office (LSWDO)
The School Head may refer the victims and offe
nders to the local social welfare and develop
ment office (LSWDO) for assessment and ap
propriate intervention
The CPC will coordinate closely with the Women
and Child Protection Desks of the PNP, the L
SWDO, other government agencies and NGO
s, as may be appropriate
15

16. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Reporting and Monitoring System
The Intake Sheets will be forwarded to the DepEd Divisio
n Office
The DepEd Division Office will consolidate the reports on
incidents and cases of all schools and submit a Divisio
n Report to the Regional Office
The DepEd Regional Office will consolidate the reports o
n incidents and cases of the Division Offices within the
Region and submit a Regional Report to the Undersec
retary for Legal and Legislative Affairs
The Central Office will be the Central Repository of Regi
onal Reports
16

17. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Reporting Requirement
All schools shall inform their respective schools
division superintendents in writing about the a
nti-bullying policies formulated within six (6)
months from the effectivity of the Act.
Notification shall be an administrative requirem
ent prior to the operation of new schools.
Every first week of the start of the schoolyear, t
he schools division superintendents shall co
mpile these data and report the same to the
Secretary of the DepED.
17

18. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Sanction for Noncompliance
The Secretary of DepED shall prescribe the
appropriate administrative sanctions on sc
hool administrators who shall fail to compl
y with the requirements under this Act.
Erring private schools shall likewise suffer th
e penalty of suspension of their permits to
operate.
18

19. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

20. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

21. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

22. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION