|
Manila: Teachers planning to apply in public schools will have to pass psychological tests to deter child abuse and determine their competence, the Education Secretary said on Saturday.
Education Secretary Jesli Lapus said the move will serve as a deterrent against the perceived rising incidence of child abuse cases in public schools and at the same time allow school authorities to gauge the mental toughness of new teachers.
However, Lapus could not give a figure on how many child abuse cases were committed by teachers but he gave assurances that his department is doing everything to address the matter.
Undersecretary Franklin Sunga of Legal and Legislative Affairs ordered all regional directors around the country to resolve child abuse cases by the end of the year.
Sunga said that he issued a memorandum enjoining a "zero backlog" of child abuse cases by December 30.
Teachers involved in such cases are not automatically expelled from government service because they are covered by the Magna Carta for Teachers, said Sunga.
Earlier, the education department warned teachers not to harshly punish erring students.
Education authorities had reissued Memorandum No 297 to remind school officials and personnel of existing regulations that strictly prohibit acts constituting abuse, exploitation and acts of discrimination against children.
Erring teachers will be dismissed from service in addition to criminal prosecution.
Budget Secretary Rolando Andaya said his office is expecting more than 370,000 new admissions in public schools next year and will need about 10,000 new teachers and 882 principals next year to handle this increase.
All these new teachers will undergo the psychological tests. While cases of child abuse committed by teachers are few and far between, public perception to the contrary multiplies these isolated incidents.
In July this year, authorities ordered a probe into the reported death of an eight-year-old student, who died several days after her head was knocked by her teacher against that of another pupil for alleged disobedience.
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi of suburban Muntinlupa City said he has ordered a thorough investigation into the death of Jessalyn Palma, a second grade student at the Sucat Elementary School.
The teacher involved, 62-year-old Esperanza Balderes, who is set to retire this month, had surrendered to school and local authorities days after the death of Palma.
Balderes admitted banging the head of Palma against another pupil's.
Several days after the incident, Palma started complaining of persistent headache and began vomiting. She died from internal haemorrhage.
Muntinlupa police said Palma's parents have filed a case for reckless imprudence resulting in homicide against the teacher.
|
