THE DEPARTMENT of Education confirmed that around 10,018 public schools have no localized anti-bullying policy despite being required by Republic Act 10627.

During the hearing led by House Committee on Basic Education and Culture Chairman Roman Romulo, EDCOM 2 Executive Director Dr. Karol Mark Yee illustrated how bullying affects student performance.

Data from international assessments showed that Grade 4 students who were bullied suffered severe dips in their performance in math and science.

“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.

“Aside from depriving our students at a safe school environment, there really are tangible effects of bullying among our students. As we can see with the TIMSS 2019 data, student performance in the classroom is severely affected,” he said.

Romulo, meanwhile, cited studies and consultations conducted by EDCOM 2 stating that the law made in 2013 is not the problem.

“The problem is with the IRR of DepEd. It must be amended. The law itself is good, the problem is with the IRR,” Romulo said.

During the hearing, EDCOM shared its initial recommendations to revise the IRR, arising from extensive consultations with teachers, parents and students nationwide.

This includes clearly defining the definition of the different types of bullying and the prohibited acts related to each; ensuring that each school has a localized anti-bullying policy; the formalization of the Learner Rights Protection Office; providing training to guidance-designates, teachers, parents, and learners to enhance awareness in bullying; and providing funds to implement school-based efforts against bullying.

“Amending the IRR of DepEd Order No. 55 is crucial in our mission at EDCOM 2. We remain committed and hopeful that DepEd, with the help of the Commission, can iron out the issues with the IRR to support students in our schools and provide safe, protected spaces for learning that each and every Filipino learner deserves,” Romulo said.