The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to launch a nationwide School Digital Safety Campaign aimed at safeguarding students, teachers and parents against cybersecurity risks and online exploitation.
The initiative seeks to expand student protection beyond physical school grounds into online environments such as social media platforms, digital gaming and group messaging applications.
“Keeping our children safe today means understanding that their world extends beyond the classroom and into their phones, games, group chats, and social media. We need to give children, parents and teachers the knowledge and tools to navigate these spaces safely,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.
The digital safety campaign is embedded within the revised K to 10 curriculum, incorporating modules on digital citizenship, online netiquette, cybersecurity and responsible technology usage for students from Grades 4 to 10.
Key focus areas include combatting cyberbullying, preventing online child exploitation and grooming, safeguarding personal data privacy, identifying digital scams, regulating screen time and managing overall digital well-being.
The initiative also equips parents with practical strategies to foster open discussions regarding digital habits, recognize warning signs of online danger and access support resources.
“Parents do not have to know every app or platform their children use. But they need to keep the lines of communication open. Our children should know that when something online scares them, pressures them, or makes them uncomfortable, they can tell a trusted adult and ask for help,” Angara added.
In addition, educators and school administrative personnel will undergo specialized training to identify red flags and utilize designated reporting and referral systems for online safety incidents.
To implement the program, DepEd is collaborating with key government entities and organizations, including the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), local government units and medical groups. These stakeholders will assist in developing campaign materials, referral protocols and specialized training programs.
The School Digital Safety Campaign will undergo pilot testing in select schools prior to a full nationwide rollout.
“We cannot leave our children to navigate the digital world on their own. Keeping them safe is a shared responsibility of the school, the home, government and the community,” Angara stressed.