Safeguarding Learners: Assessing the Alignment of Child Protection Issues in the Philippines with the Department of Education’s Child Protection Policy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69569/jip.2026.425xKeywords:
Child protection, DepEd child protection policy, Educational governance, Policy alignment, School safetyAbstract
Child protection remains a significant concern in the Philippines despite existing legal and policy frameworks designed to safeguard children's rights. Emerging issues such as Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC), alongside persistent concerns including violent discipline, bullying, child marriage, and child labor, raise questions regarding the responsiveness of existing school-based child protection policies. This study examined the alignment between prevailing child protection issues and the provisions of the Department of Education (DepEd) Child Protection Policy (DepEd Order No. 40, s. 2012). Employing a documentary data mining design integrated with policy document and crosswalk analysis, the study utilized the Situation of Children in the Philippines: Insights 2024, published by the Philippine Children Research Network (PCRN), and DepEd Order No. 40, s. 2012, as its primary data sources. Documentary evidence was extracted, organized into analytical matrices, and analyzed using descriptive analysis, policy content analysis, gap analysis, and a Traffic Light Heatmap across four dimensions: recognition, prevention, reporting, and response. Findings revealed strong policy alignment for violent discipline, physical punishment, sexual abuse, and bullying; partial alignment for OSAEC and violence against adolescent girls; and limited policy coverage for child marriage and child labor. The analysis further identified implementation challenges, inadequate awareness, underutilized reporting pathways, and evolving digital risks. The study concludes that while DepEd Order No. 40, s. 2012 provides a strong foundation for learner protection, periodic policy enhancement and strengthened implementation mechanisms are necessary to address emerging and persistent child protection concerns. The study recommends explicit coverage of technology-facilitated harms, standardized operational guidance for Child Protection Committees, learner-friendly reporting mechanisms, and strengthened multisectoral coordination. These findings provide an evidence-based and replicable approach for strengthening school-based child protection policy and educational governance in the Philippines.
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