CAGAYAN de Oro City — Keeping students safe may require more than guards and security checks as the Department of Education (DepEd) moves to strengthen mental health support and digital safety in schools.
Education Secretary Sonny Angara said physical security measures should be matched with efforts to help students deal with emotional concerns and navigate online risks.
Angara made the statement in Pakil, Laguna, during the launch of internet connectivity for 12 public schools.
He said greater access to digital technology also brings new risks that schools and families need to understand.
“Although maganda na may digital technology tayo, ’wag nating kalimutan ’yung pinaka-importanteng teknolohiya ay matatagpuan sa gitna ng ating mga tenga,” Angara said.
He also pointed to the need for students to be guided in using social media and other online platforms, where harmful content and other threats may be encountered.
Angara welcomed steps by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) against online applications and platforms that authorities say may be used to recruit or expose young people to harmful activities.
He also urged teachers to pay closer attention to students’ emotional well-being, particularly when parents or guardians may have limited time to monitor them.
“Bilang mga pangalawang magulang ng ating mga bata sa eskwelahan,” Angara said, teachers can help by talking with students, understanding their situation and guiding them in their use of the internet.
The DepEd is also coordinating with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police on a Joint School Safety Task Force.
The proposed task force will conduct security assessments in public schools while strengthening measures related to digital safety and mental health.
The move comes amid recent reports of violent incidents in schools in different parts of the country, prompting renewed attention to how schools can better protect students and respond to emerging threats.
For DepEd, school safety now involves not only securing school grounds but also helping students cope with personal concerns and use technology responsibly. (With reports from PIA-10)
