Following recent violent incidents inside schools, which highlighted the need to ensure children’s safety beyond school premises.
According to the Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday, September 21, it is now preparing to launch a School Digital Safety Campaign for students, teachers, and parents.
The said move is in light of recent string of tragic shooting incidents and other acts of violence inside school campuses.
Authorities, at present, are investigate the circumstances surrounding incidents such as a reported online activity linked to the case at Banga National High School in South Cotabato, which occurred last Friday, September 18 and killed six people and injured three others.
DepEd said that it is now taking action to bolster awareness and risk prevention regarding digital spaces where children frequently communicate, learn, and socialize.
“Keeping our children safe today means understanding that their world extends beyond the classroom and into their phones, games, group chats, and social media,” stressed Education Secretary Sonny Angara.
According to him, there is a need to give children, parents, and teachers the knowledge and tools to navigate these spaces safely.
Thus, this upcoming initiative will directly support DepEd’s revised K to 10 curriculum, which integrates digital citizenship, netiquette, online safety, and responsible technology use into core subjects.
These include Edukasyong Pantahanan at Pangkabuhayan (EPP)/Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE), Values Education, and Physical Education & Health for Grades 4 through 10.
Moreover, these lessons will extend beyond the classroom as the School Digital Safety Campaign will translate curriculum concepts into simple, everyday activities that parents and teachers can easily implement together such as the provision of practical, age-appropriate guidance on safe chatting and online behavior, grooming and online child exploitation, cyberbullying and online harassment, privacy, scams, and personal information protection.
It also covers responsible social media use, gaming and online safety, exposure to violent or harmful online content, managing screen time and digital well-being, as well as warning signs, reporting, referrals, and appropriate actions to take should an incident occur.
A key component of the campaign is preparing parents to better understand their children’s digital lives.
Parents will receive practical guidance on how to discuss their children’s online experiences, recognize potential warning signs, set appropriate boundaries, and know when and where to seek help.
“Parents do not have to know every app or platform their children use. But they need to keep the lines of communication open. Our children should know that when something online scares them, pressures them, or makes them uncomfortable, they can tell a trusted adult and ask for help,” Angara added.
Furthermore, the campaign will also build the capacity of teachers and school staff to identify warning signs, respond appropriately, and understand the proper reporting and referral mechanisms.
DepEd said it will collaborate with several agencies and stakeholders in implementing the campaign, tying up with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
The education department will also partner with leagues of local governments, and relevant medical associations to develop practical materials, referral protocols, and training programs for students, teachers, and parents.
Hence, as an immediate next step, DepEd will convene partner agencies and organizations to formulate the campaign framework and materials. Pilot testing will be conducted in selected schools prior to nationwide implementation.
The School Digital Safety Campaign will aslo serve as additional support for DepEd’s ongoing reforms regarding physical security, school staffing, child protection, and emergency preparedness that are all part of a more comprehensive approach to school safety.
DepEd is also continuing to expand its initiatives to enhance school safety across various areas through physical measures such as CCTVs, metal detectors, and perimeter fencing.
Personnel and system-based support include security guards, School Counselor Associates (SCAs), Learner Formation Officers (LFOs), and Child Protection Committees (CPCs). Preparedness is also being reinforced through regular safety and emergency response drills.
DepEd is also calling upon parents, teachers, school leaders, local governments, government agencies, and communities to play an active role in ensuring children’s safety online.
“We cannot leave our children to navigate the digital world on their own. Keeping them safe is a shared responsibility of the school, the home, government, and the community,” said Angara.
