10,018 public schools have no anti-bullying policy – EDCOM 2

The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) has revealed their latest findings that there are 10,018 public schools with no localized anti-bullying policies despite being mandated by the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013.

During the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education hearing on Nov. 13, EDCOM 2 Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee highlighted the impact of bullying to students’ academic performance in major subjects.

“Students who were never bullied scored 351 in math, while those who reported being bullied weekly scored 269. In science, those who were not bullied scored 318, while those who reported being bullied weekly scored 214”, Yee said, citing the data from an international assessment.

He stressed that students were not only deprived of a safe school environment, but also affected by the tangible effects of bullying.

The severity of bullying in the Philippines was reflected in the data from Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) which showed that the country has the highest prevalence of bullying cases.

Earlier this year, EDCOM 2 raised the lack of guidance counselors in schools, which became another factor that holds back schools in initiating anti-bullying policies.

Yee estimated that it would take up to 14 years to address the 4,460 vacancies for guidance counselors nationwide. 

The Department of Education (DepEd) also pointed out that some regions, like MIMAROPA and Region 8, have no graduates in Masters and Guidance and Counseling since 2018, which contributes to the gap in guidance counselors.

To address the lack of guidance counselors, the new Mental Health and Well-Being Act awaits for the signing by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, EDCOM 2 Co-Chairperson Rep. Roman Romulo said.

“Under the new Mental Health and Well-Being Act, we will now allow not only guidance counselors (who are required to have Master’s degrees), we will allow psychologists, graduates of allied courses with at least 18 units of behavioral science”, EDCOM 2 reported.