The Ateneo de Manila University-Junior High School yesterday announced adjustments in the resumption of classes next year following the bullying incidents involving students in its Quezon City campus.
AJHS Principal Jose Antonio Salvador, in a memorandum addressed to the parents of the AJHS students, announced that they have decided to move start of classes from Jan. 3 to Jan. 7 to “allow the school administration, faculty, and staff ample time to prepare for the implementation of a series of concrete and proactive measures that will directly address bullying on campus.”
The ADMU has been embroiled in controversy after one of its students was caught on video bullying a fellow student inside a comfort room within the campus.
The videos of the “bully” went viral and became a national issue with Malacanang, Congress, and the Department of Education urging the concerned authorities to take action.
After a “thorough investigation,” the ADMU ordered the dismissal of the student involved in the bullying incident.
ADMU President Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin, S.J., said that the decision was a result of “thorough” investigation, meeting with both parties concerned and administration of the university.
“The decision of the administration is to impose the penalty of dismissal on the student caught bullying another student in the comfort room of the school,” Villarin said. “This means that he is no longer allowed to come back to the Ateneo,” he added.
Following the decision, DepEd Secretary Leonor Briones expressed optimism that addressing the bullying issue will be addressed holistically. “Let this be a wakeup call for everyone who believes in education and the protection of learners to take bullying in all its forms seriously,” she said. (Ina Hernando Malipot)
