The Department of Education (DepEd) has issued a memorandum on the observance of National School Safety Week, emphasizing the importance of protecting learners and creating safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments. The initiative encourages schools to strengthen their efforts to prevent bullying, violence, abuse, and other risks that may affect learners inside and outside the classroom, including online spaces.
School Safety Activities and Lessons
DepEd instructs teachers to integrate school safety lessons into the Homeroom Guidance Program (HGP), Good Manners and Right Conduct (GMRC), and Values Education (VE). Teachers may discuss learners’ rights, bullying prevention, online safety, disaster preparedness, fire safety, health and hygiene, and the proper ways to report concerns through school-based mechanisms such as the Child Protection Committee (CPC). You can find the necessary resources for this lesson integration using this link https://tinyurl.com/BLDHubSELDigitalLiteracy.
Schools will also conduct activities to promote awareness and commitment to learner safety. These may include messages from school heads and partner agencies during the flag ceremony, the recitation of the Panata para sa Ligtas, Inklusibo, at Maalagang Paaralan, and the signing of the School Safety Commitment Wall.
DepEd Introduces the My Buddy System
The memorandum also introduces the My Buddy System, a peer-support strategy that pairs learners or organizes them into small groups. Through this initiative, learners can offer one another support, guidance, and companionship. The system aims to help learners feel welcome, included, and more confident in participating in school activities.
DepEd will orient school heads on the program’s design, safeguards, and implementation. School heads must provide clear guidance to teachers and learners and adapt the system to their schools’ specific needs and available resources.
The School Safety Commitment Wall template may be accessed through the following link: https://tinyurl.com/CommitmentTarp
Full Copy of the Memorandum
The Department of Education released a memorandum to direct all SDOs, ROs, and schools to observe the school safety week. You can read the full memorandum below or download it here.
Reporting and Implementation
DepEd regional offices will disseminate the memorandum, provide technical assistance, and monitor the implementation of school safety activities. Schools Division Offices (SDOs) will consolidate reports from schools and Community Learning Centers (CLCs) and submit their accomplishment reports, with supporting documents, to the Learner Rights and Protection Division (LRPD) within 15 calendar days after the observance.
Schools may charge expenses for the activities against available and appropriate funds, including Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE), subject to existing government budgeting, accounting, auditing, and procurement rules.
A Shared Responsibility for Learner Safety
National School Safety Week reminds the entire school community that learner protection requires cooperation among school personnel, parents, learners, and partner agencies. By teaching children how to protect themselves, report concerns, practice responsible online behavior, and support their peers, schools can help build an environment where every learner feels safe, respected, and ready to learn.