How do we secure our school children from terrorists?

Assuming that a terrorist is completely heartless and conscienceless, granting that a suicide bomber is a decidedly brutal beast, full of hatred and anger, would he not target the public and private schools and even colleges and universities where our most treasured loved ones are totally vulnerable and defenseless? Heaven forbid! But the truth is that our school systems are not well-secured. They invite the evil one to inflict harm upon our innocent sons and daughters. Is the DepEd even aware of such grim possibilities? Is CHED also conscious of the very serious implications of any terrorist attack against our children?

The enemies of peace have enough brains to hit us where we are most vulnerable. They know that our children are our Achilles heels. They know that the soldiers who are waging war in Marawi or running after NPA armed partisans have their own sons and daughters in some schools. They know where to hit and deliver the most devastating damage. The enemies have intelligence operations. They have their own spies and their networks can and must have already penetrated our school information systems. Thus, we should assume the worst and pray for the best and safest scenario. And the worst possibility is to kidnap, hurt, and even massacre innocent school children.

I don’t think that all public and private schools are fully secured. There are many security lapses and most of the school administrators and personnel are not security-savvy. They are even clueless on what could happen, given the continuing sword of Damocles constantly hanging over each school child’s head. In school campuses, vendors come and go. They are not really cleared by experts in security operations. School janitors, messengers, school bus drivers and even canteen personnel are security threats. They may be bribed, coerced or intimidated to sneak some bombs inside the school buildings, bombs that can be detonated by a simple cellphone.

In order to safeguard against the most devastating scenario, school principals, university presidents, and college directors should think like a terrorist. It is high time that the academic communities should plan and strategize and guard our children while at school, as well as when they are onboard school buses (where bombs can also be planted). Parent-teacher associations should focus on security and safety. Constant and uninterrupted vigilance is indeed the price of the safety and well-being of our defenseless young ones in schools. It is better to be overanxious, and overprepared than regret later.

This is a serious matter, a really very, very serious matter. We all need to come together and keep our children safe from terrorism and other crimes. No ifs, ands, or buts.