According to the Department of Education (DepEd), the teacher who allegedly verbally abused a Grade 5 student on the first day of class will face administrative proceedings.
A netizen who identified herself as the student’s aunt shared in a widely shared post from last Monday that the learner had been insulted by the teacher on the first day of class.
According to the post, the teacher referred to the student as “bobo” and “bruha” (stupid) (a witch).
Photo courtesy Jeannie Vargas
DepEd officials met with the student’s parents on Tuesday, according to spokesman Michael Poa, and assured them that the organization has a “zero-tolerance policy” against abuse.
The parents were also informed of the teacher’s impending disciplinary action.
Poa told reporters in a Viber message, “The teacher will be subjected to administrative proceedings in accordance with our rules. The DepEd takes these incidents very seriously.”
He continued by saying that the student was receiving psychological first aid.
Poa said, “Psychological first aid was immediately given to the learner by trained personnel from the school health section. Psychosocial status of the learner will be monitored.”
In addition to the meeting, the regional director of DepEd was instructed to receive an incident report and an intake sheet for the child protection policy within 72 hours of the incident, Poa continued.
According to internet user Jeannie Vargas, the Grade 5 student left school in tears and cried all the way home.
She wrote, “Paano mong nasasabi mga gantong bagay sa isang 10-year old sa pinakaunang araw ng pasukan nila? Kung hindi po masaya sa pagiging guro sa mga bata, hanap na lang po ng ibang career. Wag nyong idamay mga estudyante na sumusubok pa lang lumaban sa buhay.”
Additionally, she said, “Hindi po dahil bata o dahil nasa public school, pwede nyo ng ibully ng ganyan.”
According to the post, the teacher allegedly whispered the word “bobo” (stupid) to the student.
The teacher allegedly called the student “bobo” (stupid) in a whisper, according to the post.
