‘Point of grievance’: Philippines urged to rethink school safety approach
As pressure mounts in the Philippines for authorities to act on strengthening school security after two fatal shootings in eight weeks, safety experts say any measure must look at mitigating violence much earlier, even before a child brings a weapon to the campus gate. A bill pushed by lawmaker Bam Aquino will require schools to establish a comprehensive safety framework, including localised…
The Philippines faces mounting pressure to improve school safety following a series of fatal shootings in recent weeks. Safety experts argue that measures to prevent such violence must address issues much earlier, even before a child brings a weapon to school. A proposed bill pushed by lawmaker Bam Aquino would require schools to establish comprehensive safety frameworks, including localized safety plans, common standards for infrastructure, and guidelines on prevention, emergency response, and recovery.
The bill has been praised by officials, including Education Secretary Sonny Angara and Philippine National Police Chief General Jose Melencio Nartatez. A recent survey found that 93.2% of Filipinos viewed school violence as a problem, with 75.8% urging tighter security measures. Child safety advocates warn that prevention efforts should begin long before a child reaches the school gate carrying a weapon, emphasizing the need for early detection and intervention.
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