THE Supreme Court has upheld the civil liability of a school that was found negligent for snubbing a complaint regarding a bullying incident inside the school premises.
In a ruling promulgated last January 20, the SC’s Second Division affirmed the ruling of the San Carlos City, Pangasinan Regional Trial Court and the Court of Appeals finding Mother Goose Special School System, Inc. civilly liable for negligence and ordered it to pay the victim’s parents P 650,000 in damages and attorney’s fees.
The decision written by Associate Justice Mario Lopez said the school failed to address a punching incident involving three grade school students inside one of its classrooms.
“Here, both the RTC and the CA found Mother Goose School to be grossly negligent in handling the punching incident. The Court agrees,” the SC held, adding that it finds no reason to overturn the RTC and CA findings.
“Clearly, there is preponderant evidence to support a finding of gross negligence on the part of Mother Goose School. By failing to address the harm committed by one student against another and by negligently handling the punching incident after it had already happened,” it added.
The High Court said the school failed to exercise the diligence “of a good father of the family in providing a safe learning environment to its students.”
Records of the case showed the incident happened during a computer class when two students repeatedly punched a classmate while the teacher was in the comfort room.
Despite the victim reporting the incident to his teachers, no meaningful action was taken.
When the victim’s parents raised the matter with the school, their complaints were ignored, prompting them to file formal requests for investigation.
Mother Goose School eventually concluded the incident was a mere “teasing” or “rough play” and took no disciplinary action.
Dissatisfied, the parents filed a complaint for damages against the school, the teachers, and the other students’ fathers before the RTC.
The RTC ruled that the school and the teacher-in-charge were both liable, noting their duty to protect students during school hours.
On appeal, the CA affirmed the decision but cleared the teacher, who was absent when the incident occurred.
The SC ruling, which was concurred in by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen and Associate Justices Amy Lazaro-Javier, and Jhosep Lopez, emphasized that schools have a contractual obligation to ensure a safe learning environment.
“No student can absorb the intricacies of physics or higher mathematics or explore the realm of the arts and other sciences when bullets are flying or grenades exploding in the air,” it said, adding that schools must maintain peace and order within their premises, and even outside campus during school activities.
It added that schools may avoid liability only upon proof they exercised due diligence.
