The Department of Education (DepEd) called on its field offices to increase vigilance and implement stricter preventive measures against school-based violence following a shooting incident in Nueva Ecija.
“In view of recent incidents involving school-based violence, the Department of Education (DepEd) reiterates its commitment to maintaining safe and protective learning environments for all learners, teachers, and school personnel,” the agency said in a memorandum.
The DepEd maintained that in its order (DO) No. 40, s. 2012, titled DepEd Child Protection Policy, “all learners and school personnel are prohibited from committing acts of violence, abuse, and exploitation, as well as from introducing into the school premises or otherwise possessing prohibited articles such as deadly weapons, drugs, alcohol, toxic and noxious substances, and pornographic materials, among others.”
Meanwhile, DO 007, s. 2024, titled the Policy Guidelines on the Implementation of the
Revised School-Based Management System, stressed that school communities have a shared duty to ensure that learning environments are safe, secure, inclusive, resilient, and learner-centered.
The DepEd thus directed all regional offices, schools division offices, and schools to enhance the implementation and monitoring of safety measures and violence prevention strategies, including but not limited to the following:
a. Strict enforcement of security protocols, such as the inspection of belongings upon entry to the school, increased visibility of security personnel, and the regulation of access to the school premises through controlled entry and exit points;
b. Prohibition of firearms and other prohibited articles within school premises;
c. Strengthening of policy implementation and reportorial mechanisms for incidents of child abuse, exploitation, discrimination, violence, threats, bullying, gang and gender-related violence, and other similar cases;
d. Provision of responsive learner support services, including programs on mental health, youth development, and psychosocial well-being;
e. Close coordination with local government units, barangay officials, and the Philippine National Police to monitor external threats and to ensure the safety and security of learners and school personnel;
f. Development and implementation of localized school safety plans and contingency protocols; and
g. Other activities that promote the protection and the improvement of the overall well-being of learners, personnel, and other stakeholders.
The Department of Education Central Office had strongly denounced the recent incident of violence that happened at Sta. Rosa Integrated School in Nueva Ecija, in which two individuals were hurt.
Police earlier said a 15-year-old female student was in critical condition after her ex-boyfriend shot her inside a classroom in Barangay Rizal. The victim was shot in the neck after the 18-year-old suspect entered the classroom “without provocation.”
Citing witnesses, police narrated that the suspect drew a .22 caliber firearm from his waist and shot the victim before turning the gun on himself.
The 18-year-old man passed away more than 24 hours after the shooting.
‘Heartbreaking’
In a statement, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) Philippines said it strongly condemns the shooting incident that happened inside a classroom at the Sta. Rosa Integrated School in Nueva Ecija on August 7.
“In light of this heartbreaking incident, ACT reiterates that school safety requires deep and meaningful investments in psychosocial support systems, emotional education, and a learning environment that is attentive to the complex mental health needs of students,” the ACT said.
“What our schools urgently need are guidance counselors, mental health professionals, and an education system that teaches empathy, emotional regulation, and respect for others,” ACT Chairperson Vladimer Quetua said.
The group stressed that in spite of the recent release of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Anti-Bullying Act, schools continue to suffer from apparent resource gaps, including the ratio of guidance counselors to students of one counselor for every 14,000 learners.
ACT also pointed out the serious lack of school nurses, psychologists, and learner support aides — professionals who are essential to address the mental health and psychosocial needs of students.
“Teachers are already overworked with non-teaching tasks. Without sufficient support staff, the responsibility to handle violent or traumatic incidents is unfairly and dangerously dumped on them. No policy can succeed without real personnel, infrastructure, and psychosocial programs in place,” said Quetua.
The teacher’s group also called on DepEd to conduct a thorough investigation and to treat the tragedy as a “wake-up call” for structural reforms. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
