Compliance of Public Junior High School on Child Protection Policy of the Department of Education

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

This study assessed the compliance of public junior high schools in Ibaan District on Child Protection Policy of the Department of Education. Specifically, it determined the profile of the respondents in terms of age, sex, civil status, and designation. Also, assessment of the compliance of JHS on the requirements of the Department of Education on the CPP was done along with the responsibilities of each of the aforementioned schools. Further, differences in their assessments according to their age were also taken into consideration. Results of these were used as a basis on the proposed course of action to ensure the strict implementation of each school on the Child Protection Policy of the Department of Education.

METHODS

The researchers used descriptive design using the quantitative technique. 111 respondents which included the teachers, Master Teachers and Head Teachers of the concerned Public Junior High Schools participated in the survey. Frequency, percentage, weighted mean, ranking, and independent t-test were used to statistically treat the data.

RESULTS

Most of the respondents belong to the age bracket of 30-39 and the majority were female, married, and belonged to the teaching force. It was found out that the junior high schools are compliant on requirements of the Department of Education on the Child Protection Policy and the aforementioned schools' responsibility for the matter is very evident. Moreover, no significant differences were found on the respondents' assessment of the schools' compliance and responsibilities on the implementation of the Child Protection Policy. Hence, the course of action to ensure strict implementation of the aforementioned policy was designed.

DISCUSSIONS

Child protection is a global requirement confronting every country in the world. Children are exposed to the threat of violence in all spheres of life: at home, in school and the community, the workplace, and in institutions. New/emerging forms of violence include online exploitation where easy access to the internet and the hidden nature of crimes committed in cyberspace leave children particularly vulnerable. The Child Protection Policy (Department of Education Order No. 40, s. 2012) issued by the Department of Education in 2012 refers to programs, services, procedures, and structures that are intended to prevent and respond to abuse, neglect, exploitation, discrimination, and violence. From the issues above, the researcher was challenged to venture in assessing the status of public junior high school in Ibaan District in compliance with the implementation of the Child Protection Policy of the Department of Education. In the end, the policy is worth applying for, since it is a measure that could benefit a lot the students and could bolster the school's quality services to the clientele.