The Department of Education (DepEd) has launched the “My Buddy System” to promote a safer school environment by encouraging students to seek help early and support their peers who may be facing difficulties.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said peer support plays an important role in breaking communication barriers among young learners experiencing problems.
Under the initiative, students will be organized into structured buddy pairs or small peer groups focused on friendship and peer mediation, following a “big brother/big sister” model.
The activities are designed to encourage learners to seek help in safe classroom settings while fostering supportive relationships among classmates.
DepEd stressed, however, that the program is intended to complement, not replace, professional guidance and mental health services. Risk assessments, formal referrals, and specialized interventions will remain under the responsibility of qualified professionals.
Professional guidance personnel will oversee the peer groups and lead debriefing sessions, while school Child Protection Committees and School Care Centers will handle protection concerns and external referrals.
To strengthen adult supervision and support for learners, DepEd is also accelerating the recruitment and deployment of School Counselor Associates to assist School Counselors.
The agency said the initiative forms part of its broader efforts to strengthen school safety and ensure students have access to appropriate support when they encounter difficulties.