DepEd orders strict safety measures after Nueva Ecija classroom shooting

Memo from the Department of Education in light of the school shooting incident in Nueva Ecija.

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) has directed all schools in the country to intensify safety measures and violence prevention strategies after a shooting incident injured two teenage students in a high school in Nueva Ecija.

On Thursday, August 7, a Grade 10 student from Santa Rosa Integrated School in Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija, and her 18-year-old alleged former boyfriend were both in critical condition and rushed to the hospital after the latter reportedly shot her before turning the gun on himself inside her classroom.

READ: Teen Nueva Ecija couple in critical condition after classroom shooting

In a memorandum released on Friday, August 8, Education Secretary Sonny Angara reiterated to all regional directors, schools division superintendents, school heads, and others concerned the DepEd’s call for stricter preventive measures, including the banning of deadly weapons.

Angara noted that pursuant to the DepEd 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.”

The DepEd chief likewise underscored that under DO 007, s. 2024, titled the Policy Guidelines on the Implementation of the Revised School-Based Management System, school communities have the duty of ensuring the safety and security of learning environments.

“These principles align with DepEd’s broader goal of promoting a culture of peace, mutual respect, and accountability within all schools,” Angara said.

READ: Sixth-grade student killed in Iowa school shooting, gunman dead

With this, the DepEd chief specifically ordered all regional offices, school division offices, and schools to implement the following:

• Strictly enforce security protocols, such as inspection of belongings upon entry to the school, increasing visibility of security personnel, and regulating access to the school premises through controlled entry and exit points.
• Prohibit everyone entering school premises from carrying firearms and other prohibited articles.
• Strengthen policy implementation and reportorial mechanisms for incidents of child abuse, exploitation, discrimination, violence, threats, bullying, and gang and gender-related violence, among others.
• Conduct provision of responsive learner support services, including programs that will promote mental health, youth development, and psychosocial well-being.
• Closely coordinate with local government units, barangay officials, and the Philippine National Police to monitor external threats and ensure the safety and security of everyone on school premises.
• Develop and implement localized school safety plans and contingency protocols.
• Implement other activities that promote the protection and improvement of the overall well-being of learners, personnel, and other stakeholders.

“DepEd urges all stakeholders to work together to ensure that schools remain safe, secure, and nurturing spaces for every learner,” said Angara. /mr