The Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday reported significant challenges in implementing a department order aimed at curbing school violence, with only 36% of schools nationwide complying. The admission came from an internal audit, which BusinessWorld cited.
“Based on our audit, we are only around 36% in terms of the compliance of our schools. But the good thing here is that we are aware of the gaps and we are working to address them,” a DepEd official said. The department order, which sets guidelines for preventing and responding to violence, requires schools to establish child-protection committees and conduct regular safety audits.
The remaining 64% of schools have yet to meet the requirements, raising concerns about student safety nationwide. DepEd said it would intensify technical assistance and monitoring to boost compliance, particularly in regions with the lowest adherence rates.