In a continuous effort to safeguard the rights and welfare of learners, the Department of Education (DepEd) has issued an important update regarding the Child Protection Committee (CPC) Functionality Assessment Tool. This tool, disseminated through a memorandum dated August 5, 2024, aims to strengthen the role of CPCs in both public and private schools, ensuring that they fulfill their responsibilities in protecting children against all forms of abuse, bullying, and exploitation.
Background: The Role of CPCs in Schools
In accordance with DepEd Order No. 40, s. 2012, all elementary and secondary schools are required to establish a Child Protection Committee. These CPCs are responsible for carrying out initiatives aimed at protecting students' rights and ensuring their safety within the educational environment. However, the challenge has been to ensure that these committees are functioning effectively across all schools.
To address this, DepEd, through its Learner Rights and Protection Office (LRPO), has issued an updated CPC Functionality Assessment Tool. This tool, created under DepEd Order No. 3, s. 2021, offers a more user-friendly and comprehensible way of assessing and monitoring the performance of CPCs. The goal is to ensure that these committees are fully operational, well-coordinated, and capable of implementing child protection programs and activities.
Objectives of the Updated CPC Functionality Assessment Tool
The newly revised tool provides clear, evidence-based indicators that help schools measure the functionality of their CPCs. These objectives include:
- Measuring functionality: Using specific indicators, schools can gauge how well their CPC is performing in relation to child protection.
- Assessing key work areas: The tool evaluates five critical areas of work for CPCs, ensuring their effectiveness in safeguarding learners.
- Supporting improvement: The tool also serves as a guide for schools to request assistance from the DepEd Central Office, Regional Division Offices, and Schools Division Offices to further strengthen their CPCs.
Key Work Areas of a Child Protection Committee
The CPC Functionality Assessment Tool focuses on five essential work areas, each with specific sub-indicators that schools need to assess:
Organization and Coordination:
- Establishment or reorganization of the CPC.
- Coordination mechanisms for child protection activities.
Policies and Guidelines:
- Implementation of child protection policies and operational guidelines in the school.
Capacities and Resources:
- Conducting orientation and capacity-building activities for CPC members.
- Allocating sufficient budget for CPC operations and ensuring financial sustainability.
Service Delivery:
- Implementing prevention programs for child protection.
- Establishing a quick response system to address child protection issues.
- Managing case referrals, monitoring, and documentation effectively.
- Proactively identifying and reporting child abuse or violence against children (VAC) cases.
Accountability and Performance:
- Providing accessible statistical reports on child protection cases handled by the school.
- Involving children in CPC planning, implementation, and evaluation.
- Conducting regular CPC monitoring and evaluation to track progress and effectiveness.
Levels of Functionality
Schools will assess their CPCs based on these work areas and assign a score according to the following levels of functionality:
- Not yet in place
- Planning stage
- In early stages of development
- Partially functional
- Fully functional
Ensuring Effective Monitoring and Results Submission
To ensure comprehensive monitoring, DepEd requires all schools to submit the results of their CPC Functionality Assessment via the designated platform. Schools can report their findings using the following link: https://tinyurl.com/CPC-Results-2024.
This submission process will help the LRPO and other education stakeholders evaluate the functionality of CPCs across the country and provide necessary support where needed.
Click to download School-Based Child Protection Committee Functionality Indicators Monitoring Tool
Contact Information
For further information, clarifications, or concerns regarding the CPC Functionality Assessment Tool, school administrators and CPC members can reach out to DepEd through lrpo@deped.gov.ph or call (02) 8638-1782.
Conclusion
The safety and protection of learners is a top priority for DepEd, and the updated CPC Functionality Assessment Tool is a vital resource in achieving this goal. By equipping schools with a more efficient way to evaluate their CPCs, the department hopes to foster a more secure and supportive learning environment for all Filipino students.
Make sure to review and utilize the tool in your school and contribute to ensuring the well-being of learners under your care!
For further information read this.