Violence against children in schools still prevalent

By JONNIE H. BUENAVENTURA (PIA 8)
May 28, 2009

TACLOBAN CITY  –  The Plan Philippines, an international humanitarian, child-centered development organization, recently sponsored a forum dubbed as “Fostering a Caring School Environment” which centered on the abuses sustained by children inside the school, at Leyte Park Hotel, Tacloban City.

Plan Philippines commissioned the Philippine School of Social Work (PSSW) of the Philippine Women’s University to undertake a study on violence against children (VAC) in public schools in areas covered by Plan programs.

A total of 2,442 children from 58 public schools in Masbate, Northern Samar and Camotes Island in Cebu participated in the study and the result of the study showed that at least 5 out of 10 children in Grades 1-3; about 7 out of 10 in Grades 4-6; and about 6 out of 10 in high school, have experienced some kind of violence in school.

The study showed that verbal abuse is the most prevalent form of violence experienced by children in all school levels. This includes being ridiculed and teased, being shouted at and being cursed or spoken to with harsh words.

Children peers, more than the adults, are the perpetrators of violence in schools.

According to Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski, Plan Philippines Child Rights Ambassador and daughter of business tycoon Peping Cojuangco and now President of Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), whatever effort a mother does in order to protect her children against harm and from all forms of abuse, still the school authorities specially the teachers have a vital role in fostering children for they act as the second parents of the child and most often the child follows what the teacher says.

"I believe that teachers care and molding the children in becoming leaders of the future is beyond compare. However, there are few teachers who hurt their students because they believe that it is just a form of discipline but indeed, the child suffers trauma from the abuses sustained from the perpetrators," she said.

Mrs. Jaworski revealed that the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) chaired by her father conducted a study and it turned out that only 5% of the youth (35 years old below) population engage in exercise, 92% of the Philippine population gain national pride thru sports (the likes of Manny Pacquiao -boxing, Wesley So -Chess, Paeng Nepumoceno -Bowling etc.), 7% of the youth are into drugs and 30% of the youth is engage in sex trade.

According to Iris Ann Umacob, Child and Adolescent Psychologist, when students or children in schools experience abuse there performance and self-esteem decline which results from not going anymore to schools.