Anti-Bullying Act eyes to improve student’s performance.by: Arnel Jade A. Evangelista II

CAGAYAN DE ORO - The Republic Act (RA) 10627 or Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 signed by President Aquino

September 12 is seen as one of the possible ways to improve student’s academic performance. The law defines bullying as the use of written, verbal or electronic expression, or a physical act or gesture to cause physical or emotional violation by one student to a fellow student. Minimizing or successfully preventing the forms of bullying can possibly result into a better teacher-student and student-student relationship and thus produce better academic results. “Bullying attacks the self-esteem and thus affect the student’s participation during class

activities. If the new law is implemented well in classrooms, we can see better participation.” says Rosevale School, elementary teacher Rj Dumalag. “Usahay kay ma-label naman dayon sa estudyante iyang self sa mga words nga ginakanchaw sa iyaha, mao na dayon ang ilang gakahimo nga identity nila, maulaw na nuon dayon silag apil sa class discussions kay bubo na kayo ilang tan-aw sa ilang kaugalingon.” he adds. However, the law doesn’t stop on the victim’s performance. It also seeks to provide counseling for the bully to help and guide them. “There should also be policies to help the bullies, who knows they might be acting out

like bullies because they are victims of bullying somewhere else.”says Corpus Christi secondary education teacher, Meredith Francesca T. Peralta “I agree about it being a criminal offense. But on top of this, there should be thorough counseling on both the bully and the bullied in our schools.” says Jeniffer Calo Pajaron-Mabalacad, Head, Erdkinder Program, the Abba’s Orchard. Identities of the bullies are strictly confidential and only available to the involved parties. This is to ensure privacy and security for both parties.

The Department of Education (DepEd) says that the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 aims to lessen and further prevent

unnecessary and inappropriate disciplinary actions by school officials.

DepEd reminded that the Anti-Bullying Act does not only apply to bullying of any kind done by a fellow student but also covers the school officials and teachers who inflict the same.

“The anti-bullying law is a big boost in our continuing push to develop our schools into safe and caring, learner-centered institutions” says DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro

The new act also improves the existing Child Protection Policy, a policy that also ensures a child’s welfare inside academic institutions, by DepEd, Luistrio added.

In the new act, common punishments such as being scolded and in front of fellow classmates or being asked to stand and face the wall are highly discouraged as it could humiliate and cause mental and emotional stress for the victim.

Though the act is not yet fully implemented on academic institutions, due to DepEd ongoing consultation on other sectors for the drafting of the implementing rules and regulations; the act is slowly taking effect on some schools.

“We teachers should be extra careful now with the way we address our students through words and action. Instead of enforcing punishments we are encouraged to talk to them.” says East City Central, Lapasan grade 1 teacher Mrs. Joan D Kee.

DepEd eyes Anti-Bullying Act to eradicate teachers’ improper disciplinary actions.

The Republic Act (RA) 10627 or the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 was officially signed by President Aquino last September 12. This is to secure students from bullying and other form of violence committed by fellow students, adults and authority.

by: Arnel Jade A. Evangelista II

Education in distress

Having attended in a public school in elementary, I know how it feels to be in a class where you have

to share books with other pupils, seat in broken chair and listen to a teacher who doesn’t seem to know what he/she is talking about. With that, I think that the problem with the education system in the Philippines is rooted in the following points: Lack of competent educator, shortage of adequate educational facilities and lastly, the lack of motivated learners.

In a recent study made by SEAMEO Innotech in 2011, 49% percent of the pupils who participated in the study were identified to lack the reason and/or motivation to attend school. Thus in effect, it caused the high instance of student drop outs both in the primary and secondary institution. This alarming statistic would show us how our education system in the country is.

This reality tells us one thing; our students are not getting the quality education that the government has promised. An indication that could support this reality is the fact that a large number of Elementary students knows how to read but have a weak or slow ability to comprehend what he/she is reading. A simple logic would tell us that generally, a student who doesn’t understand why he/she has to go to school and a student who has a slow ability of reading comprehension would have a higher chance of dropping out.

Functional literacy is an idea of providing a higher level of efficiency of the students in reading and understanding what they are introduced with. The concept of functional

literacy explores into the capacity of students to be responsible and efficient consumers of thought and knowledge. It also addresses the looming cause of the increase of drop outs in schools, by providing students the venue for to be critical and logical.

If functional literacy is made available among Filipino pupils and students, little by little, the problem on our education system will be solved. If learners will realize the importance of education and attain mastery on both reading and comprehension, it will produce excellent students in the country.

Understanding the potential of knowledge, could help us alleviate the high incidence of drop outs in elementary and high school. Students should be empowered and should be engaged in the real cause of education, because with proper education we can generate highly efficient individual.

The government in the recent year have pushed their efforts further. In effect we may gradually be able to come to that time when the education system is positively changed. But without a doubt our education system should shift its paradigm to a more effective one, a system that could facilitate a culture of student centred learning.

If we want to change our literacy system to a more effective scheme, we should not let our students’ access mediocrity. The development and enhancement of educational facilities is equally important on that of the teaching paradigm of the school, thus, both of which should be present in our education system if we want to ensure a good quality of education for our learners.

Earl Deomari Lumagbas Castillo

Education in distress

by Pearl Therese S. Aton

Often times in life, we are clueless about what our purpose is. Questions like, “What am I meant to do?” “What is my life’s purpose?” has haunted us in our sleep. There are people who are made to do something great but are only too lazy or too scared to get out of their comfort zone and accomplish their true mission. But Dr. Mitchel Villaceran – Rodriguez is one of the few people who, at an early age, know she is meant to do something that will effect positive change in her community. It is Maam Mitch’s calling to share her knowledge with her students in the best way she possibly can. Maam Mitch completed her secondary education in Gingoog Institute (now Gingoog Christian College) last March 1997. She entered college and took up Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education in Bukidnon State College – Gingoog City External Studies and graduated last March 2001. She proceeded to take up her masters in Capitol University and she graduated last 2007. The journey to carry out her life’s mission has never been a smooth sail. Back when she was still in grade six, the company where her father was working closed down, which pushed her family into more financial problems.

“I went to high school having only one pair of black shoes, one pair of socks, and one pair of uniform. I could still remember sewing my blouse again and again”, she recalled. When she entered college, she had the same dinner menu from first to fourth year – plain coffee and rice. Often times, she would travel to Cagayan de Oro City, to attend her classes for her masters, with only three hundred pesos in her pocket. “The two hundred was for my back and forth fare, thirty pesos for my lunch and seventy pesos for my photocopies. My favorite back then was Takuyaki since it would only cost me twenty-eight pesos.” she shared. Despite the hardships that were thrown in her way, she is glad to have gone through it all. “I am thankful to the kind of life I had because it made me stronger and it strengthened my desire to really finish school.” Although there were days when she wanted to surrender, her family has served as her inspiration and source of strength. One thing she shared that has left a mark on me is how positive she is towards the adversities in life. “When things are done, I don’t look at it on the negative side but on the triumph and success after.” she said.

Her passion to fulfill her life’s mission has been recognized recently by the Metrobank Foundation. She has been awarded as one of the ten outstanding teachers in the Philippines. Maam Mitch developed a reading program which helped improve the reading habits of her students in Odiongan Central School in Gingoog City. When asked about how she felt about the recognition, she said, “I don’t consider myself as above the rest so I am very much overwhelmed that God gave me this, considering that this competition is very tough.” Some people maybe clueless as to what their life’s purpose may be, it is never too late to figure it out and accomplish it. Remember to fulfill your mission with utmost sincerity, honesty, passion and love. In the words of Maam Mitch, “Do not work for recognition but work because it’s the right and best thing to do. Never forget to offer and life everything to Him.”