Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 26) – The Department of Education on Thursday committed to strengthen its mental health program and improve security in schools following recent incidents of violence inside campuses.
In a statement, the DepEd said it will tap mental health experts and advocates to craft programs.
“We acknowledge the recent incidents involving violence in schools. We can see from the circumstances surrounding such incidents that they are related to mental health issues,” the agency said in a statement.
“The Department commits to seek out mental health experts and advocates to be able to formulate and implement effective programs to address such issues at school level.”
It added that Vice President and DepEd Secretary Sara Duterte has already ordered regional offices and division offices to coordinate with the police to identify schools that “require spot inspections of weapons among personnel and learners, and subsequently, a report on the actions taken.”
On Thursday, a 12-year-old student – who is a son of a policeman – accidentally shot himself with his father’s gun inside his school’s comfort room in Bulacan.
