By Vergel Labesig
THE Teachers’ Dignity Coalition said it will not tolerate any form of child abuse committed by teachers against their students.
It issued the statement following the declaration of the police that the death of a 14-year-old student in Antipolo City was not related to his being slapped by his teacher.
“We would not tolerate any form of abuse by teachers against students, but we challenge the Department of Education as well to safeguard the rights of teachers to due process and equal protection of the law,” TDC chairperson Benjo Basas said.
“The government must ensure a conducive learning and teaching environment by, among other things, ensuring a sufficient number of teachers and classrooms, adequate rest for teachers, an effective guidance and counseling program, and a balanced policy for student discipline,” Basas added.
Although experts had determined that the student’s death was not caused by his slapping, Basas said their colleague should not be absolved from “possible administrative and criminal liabilities under the DepEd Child Protection Policy (DO 40, s. 2012) and the Anti-Child Abuse Law (RA 7610).”