The Department of Education (DepEd) is urging parents and guardians to take a more active role in their children’s school lives, emphasizing that regular conversations at home could help identify bullying, violence, behavioral changes and other problems before they escalate.
The call comes as DepEd intensifies its nationwide efforts to strengthen learner protection and create safer school environments.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara has emphasized that protecting students cannot be left to schools alone. Families, communities, local governments and other agencies also have a role in identifying problems affecting children and responding to them early.
Parents urged to watch for changes
DepEd has encouraged parents to pay closer attention to changes in their children’s behavior and maintain communication with schools.
This includes noticing whether a child suddenly becomes withdrawn, fearful, unusually anxious, reluctant to attend school or displays other significant behavioral changes.
The concern extends beyond traditional bullying. DepEd’s strengthened learner-protection measures cover bullying, physical violence, intimidation and other threats to students’ safety and well-being.
The department’s latest guidelines specifically encourage parents and guardians to participate in anti-bullying initiatives, become familiar with school policies, cooperate with school authorities when incidents occur and use positive discipline when addressing behavioral concerns at home.
Bullying remains a serious concern
The urgency of the campaign is underscored by data from the Philippines’ participation in the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
According to figures cited by Inquirer, 43% of Filipino girls and 53% of Filipino boys reported being bullied at least a few times a month. About one in three Filipino students reported experiencing bullying at least once a week.
DepEd has consequently moved to strengthen its response to bullying and serious violations.
Under DepEd Order No. 006, series of 2026, or the Guidelines on Ensuring a Safe and Motivating Learning Environment, schools are expected to implement stronger learner-protection mechanisms. Serious violations may result in sanctions that can include non-readmission, exclusion or referral to appropriate authorities, depending on the circumstances.
More school counselors are being hired
DepEd is also accelerating the hiring of school counselor associates as part of its response.
Angara recently said the department shortened the hiring process for counselor associates from nearly four months to about 30 days, while teachers are also being trained to better handle bullying and related problems.
The move reflects a growing recognition that student safety involves more than physical security. Mental health, emotional well-being and early intervention are increasingly being incorporated into school protection programs.
Safety efforts now extend beyond the classroom
DepEd has also been strengthening coordination with local governments, law enforcement and other organizations.
The department recently partnered with UNICEF and EDUCO Philippines to develop national guidelines aimed at helping schools, personnel, students and parents respond to violence, disasters and other threats that could disrupt children’s education and safety.
Meanwhile, DepEd’s nationwide safety exercises have adopted a trauma-informed and age-appropriate approach. The department dropped planned active-shooter reenactments after concerns that realistic simulations could cause psychological distress among students and teachers.
The National Simultaneous Safety Drill was subsequently conducted on September 3, with schools practicing emergency responses while avoiding fear-inducing methods.
The conversation starts at home
For DepEd, strengthening school safety ultimately requires parents and schools to work together.
The message is straightforward: parents should not wait for a serious incident before asking their children how things are going at school.
A simple conversation about friends, teachers, classes, conflicts and how a child feels about going to school can provide an early opportunity to identify a problem.
And sometimes, the most important warning sign may not come from a report filed at school—it may come from something a child finally feels safe enough to tell a parent.
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