Bohol 3rd District Representative Kristine Alexie Tutor has filed a bill aims to remove non-teaching responsibilities of teachers and faculty members in all public schools. Among this non-administrative work is manning the school health facility and guidance office.
Rep. Tutor has filed House Bill 4232, otherwise known as" School Health and Safety Act, " seeking to establish School Health and Safety Offices(SHSO) in each state- run schools, including government universities and colleges as well as public technical and vocational schools to be manned by qualified, licensed and certified personnel so that teachers can focus on teaching.
The lady solon explained the SHSO is envisioned to be potent front line health care delivery center strategically placed within schools to serve students, their parents, and their teachers.
Tutor, House Committee on Health Senior Vice-Chairperson, explained that the bill is intended to unburden public school teachers and faculty of state universities and colleges of the non-teaching responsibilities heaped upon them by regulations of the DepEd, TESDA, and CHED.
"Many more health, healing and safety professionals are needed in the country’s public schools which are the battlefield frontline against threat to public health and safety.” she said.
The lawmaker said the number and assorted SHSO personnel shall be determined by students population per school.
Under the measure, schools, extension campus and branch with populations of up to 1,000 should have one medical doctor, a nurse, a dentist, a nutritionist, a dental hygienist, a guidance counselor or psychologist, a psychiatrist, electrician, plumber, two security guards and two utility workers.
Schools with a population of ranging from more than 3,000 are required to have two medical doctors, three nurses, two dentists, two nutritionists, two social workers, one guidance counselor, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, a psychometrician, three emergency medical technicians.
“School health, security, and safety manpower in our public schools is grossly inadequate. At the DepEd, the school nurse-to-student ratio they are following is 1:5,000 and the allocation of the school nurse items is not by school, but by school division which means by province or by city,” she added.
Aside from medical personnel, the licensed Physical Therapist lawmaker explained the bill also provides plumbers, volunteer firefighters, electricians, and utility workers for schools.
The measure also calls for enough security guards in public schools to prevent crimes and entry of illegal drugs in campuses.
“There is also the urgent need to keep illegal drugs from physically entering campuses and being used and sold to students and school personnel. Moreover, it has become necessary to strengthen preventive anti-drug abuse campaigns among students, their parents, and the teachers.” she said.( Rey Tutas)
-depedclick.com
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