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Stressing active threat drills alone are not enough to prevent school violence, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Thursday said it is strengthening mental health services and learner reporting mechanisms for students.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said campus safety should also focus on addressing learners’ mental and emotional well-being by ensuring they have access to counseling and safe channels to report abuse or other concerns.
“Hindi sapat na masanay lang ang ating mga mag-aaral sa mga drill para sa kanilang pisikal na kaligtasan; kailangan din natin siguruhin ang kanilang mental at emosyonal na kalusugan, at tiyaking may malalapitan silang helpline at mga gabay sa bawat paaralan ng walang takot,” Angara said.
(It is not enough for our students to be trained in drills for their physical safety. We must also ensure their mental and emotional well-being and make sure they have helplines and guidance services in every school that they can approach without fear.)
The initiative forms part of a nationwide effort ordered by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to strengthen school safety following recent incidents of violence on campuses.
While DepEd has begun rolling out active threat drills in schools, Angara said the department is also expanding its National Learners TeleSafe Contact Center Helpline to all regions, allowing students to report concerns confidentially.
Through a partnership with the National Center for Mental Health, learners who seek help through the hotline will also have greater access to psychological support services, the department said.
DepEd is likewise fast-tracking the hiring of around 10,000 School Counselor Associates after the Civil Service Commission approved the qualification standards for the position.
According to the Education Dept., the new personnel will provide school-based support to address students’ mental health concerns and emotional well-being.
DepEd also said schools are adopting localized anti-bullying measures and basic security protocols, including regular bag inspections, under the Guidelines on Ensuring a Safe and Motivating Learning Environment (ESMLE).
The department added that learners are being taught to recognize warning signs of online and offline abuse through social-emotional learning integrated into classroom discussions, covering learner rights, anti-bullying programs, reporting mechanisms, and help-seeking behavior.
DepEd said it continues to work with families, local government units, law enforcement agencies, and communities to strengthen school safety and ensure campuses remain safe spaces for learners. —RF, GMA News
