SC finds school negligent regarding bullying incident

The Supreme Court (SC) has found the Mother Goose Special School System Inc. civilly liable for negligence after a student was assaulted during a computer class, highlighting the duty of schools to ensure a safe environment for their students.

In a decision penned by Associate Justice Mario V. Lopez, the SC Second Division ruled that the school failed to act meaningfully after a punching incident involving three grade school students, which took place while the teacher was in the comfort room.

Although the victim reported the attack, school officials dismissed it as mere “teasing” or “rough play” and refused to take disciplinary action.

The victim’s parents, dissatisfied with the school’s inaction, filed a complaint for damages against the institution, the teacher, and the parents of the aggressors.

The Regional Trial Court initially ruled in their favor, holding both the school and the teacher liable. The Court of Appeals later affirmed the school’s liability but cleared the teacher, noting she was not present during the incident.

Affirming the CA’s ruling, the Supreme Court emphasized that schools have a contractual obligation to maintain a safe environment, not only during school hours but also during school-sanctioned activities outside campus.

Schools can only avoid liability by proving they exercised due diligence, the ruling stressed.

The SC found that the school failed to implement proper protocols, did not promptly inform the victim’s parents, and mishandled the internal investigation.

While the incident occurred before the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 was enacted, the Court still recognized it as bullying in the general sense.