Enhancing Participation of Children in Schools: A Social Worker's Perspective

Authors

  • Karleen May Reodique Department of Social Work, College of Social Work and Community Development, University of the Philippines Diliman

Keywords:

Social Work Model-building; Children participation; Children Protection; School Social Work; Children’s Rights

Abstract

Recognizing the importance of children’s participation in ensuring cognitive and social skills development of children, value formation and citizenship, better decision-making for child-centered programs, and strengthening child protection systems, this paper aims to propose a social work model on enhancing children participation in school governance. The model focuses on child-centered intervention approach in addressing the issues and barriers to children’s meaningful participation in decision-making in a public elementary school. Drawing on the assessment conducted in Kalayan Elementary School on the extent and quality of children’s participation, the author proposes a social work model in ensuring the representation of the pupils in the school-based management committee of a public elementary school. The social work model was developed through: (1) needs assessment and further analysis of data using problem tree analysis; (2) developing theory of change to guide the social workers in attaining the desired changes; and (3) creation of a social work model that encapsulates the proposed intervention and expected outcomes.

Author Biography

Karleen May Reodique, Department of Social Work, College of Social Work and Community Development, University of the Philippines Diliman

Karleen May C. Reodique is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Social Work, College of Social Work and Community Development, University of the Philippines Diliman. She earned her graduate of Bachelor of Science in Social Work and Master’s in social work degrees in the same university. Before joining the academe, she has spent her five years working in an international organization for children in the areas of children participation, child protection, school health and nutrition, and early childhood care and development.

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Published

2025-06-29

How to Cite

Reodique, K. M. (2025). Enhancing Participation of Children in Schools: A Social Worker’s Perspective. Asean Social Work Journal, 13(1). Retrieved from https://www.aseansocialwork.com/index.php/asw/article/view/107

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