THE Commission on Human Rights commended the campaign of the Department of Education against bullying, most especially its move to train teachers and parents on how to spot the “red flags” of bullying among students and children.

“[W]e commend DepEd’s initiative to train teachers and parents in recognizing the indicators and signs of bullying among students,” CHR said in a statement.

“This demonstrates our proactive approach to prioritizing mental health as an essential component of each student’s overall development.”

The Human Rights Commission stressed that mental health is now a major concern in schools and the community as a whole.

“Different forms of abuse within educational institutions, such as bullying, have a significant impact on children’s performance, whether academic or non-academic,” CHR said.

“These incidents cause stress, anxiety, and other mental health concerns, which impede students’ overall development and learning dynamics,” it added.

Earlier, Education Secretary Sara Duterte-Carpio disclosed that DepEd received 1,709 reports of various forms of abuse against students through the Learner’s Telesafe Contact Center Helpline in November 2023.

Meanwhile, the Commission said it would remain committed to its mandate of protecting the rights of people, particularly those who have been victims of abuse.

“Bullying, harassment, and other forms of abuse have no place in sanctuaries of learning.”