Senatorial candidate and Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay has called for prudence in responding to recent violent occurrences in public schools in Metro Manila, saying overly stringent security measures would do more harm than good.
Binay made the statement in response to videos of violence resurfacing online involving students in public schools that have been linked to bullying.
She said resorting to body searches and other stringent measures similar to airport security protocols would create a culture of fear among students.
“Schools should not feel like a war zone. We don’t want to create a culture where children feel fear when they go to school,” Binay said.
She also noted there have been no mass shooting incidents in schools in the country, unlike in the United States.
“The recent incidents are isolated cases and do not warrant extreme measures,” she said.
Binay also called on school administrators, faculty, community leaders, parents and guardians to work together in keeping schools “safe havens for learning,” particularly through the effective implementation of the Anti-Bullying Act.
“The task of keeping our schools safe havens for learning entails sustained and strategic collaboration among all stakeholders. These include the school administrators, teachers, security guards, parents and guardians, and even the barangay peace and order personnel and the police,” Binay said.
Binay emphasized the important role of parents and guardians in preventing bullying and the ensuing incidents of violence involving students.
“I urge parents and guardians to closely monitor your children for any signs of being bullied, or for behavior that may indicate that they are the aggressor. Be active in school activities raising awareness about the dynamics of bullying and help educate your children on how they can protect themselves through peaceful and lawful means,” Binay said.
The mayor also said the severe shortage in guidance counselors reported by the Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM 2) must be addressed with urgency in light of the increasing incidence of bullying in the country.
“The role of guidance counselors is crucial and indispensable to promoting safe schools. Changes should be made in current policies and standards for this position to attract highly qualified professionals to fill in the vacancies,” Binay said.
According to the EDCOM 2 report in July last year, there are around 4,400 vacant positions for guidance counselor in the country’s public schools.
