DepEd, PNP chiefs tackle violence in schools

MANILA, Philippines — Education Secretary Sonny Angara met with Philippine National Police chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III yesterday to address the series of violent incidents reported inside and outside schools.

“We requested for heightened police visibility in school vicinities and the possibility of capacity-building for our first-responders in the barangays and schools,” Angara said.

The issue of New People’s Army recruitment in educational institutions was also tackled during their meeting.

President Marcos has ordered agencies to look into the successive violent incidents involving students and to ensure that child protection policies are being implemented in schools.

Various sectors have raised concern over the recent criminal acts within school premises, including the shooting of a 15-year-old student by her 18-year-old ex-boyfriend in Nueva Ecija, the killing of a teacher by a Grade 12 student who had received a failing grade in Lanao del Sur and the beating of a nine-year-old Grade 3 student by high school students in Iligan City.

Department of Education Assistant Secretary Jocelyn Andaya said the DepEd is mulling the creation of a crisis management committee to address the issue.

She added that the role of parents is crucial in dealing with school violence.

“The dinner table is important because they will ask, what happened in school? What did you do? Who are your classmates? Is something bothering you? Did someone bully you? We need to be proactive about this,” she said.

“That’s why the DepEd is saying, it’s no longer just a DepEd issue. It’s actually a societal issue. Parents need to be very involved,” Andaya added. — Jose Rodel Clapano, Emmanuel Tupas