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“We are slowly recovering from the trauma,” says the Department of Education in Tacloban City
TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – The Department of Education (DepEd) in Tacloban City has planned several measures on how the San Jose National High School will recover from this week’s shooting incident.
Nilo Eder, information officer of the DepEd Tacloban Schools Division, said the knowledge of social psychology experts will be useful if the school community can already move into conducting classes.
“We have to rely on our experts. If their advice is that the children are not ready, then we have to listen to their advice,” Eder told Rappler on Friday, June 26.
“As we would like to resume studies, the welfare of the children is very important here,” he said.
In their initial plans, the San Jose National High School will conduct regular training from July 1, after the inner city festival.
The return to in-person classes is expected on July 6.
Providing psychosocial support will still continue in the normal distance learning transition.
By the first day of in-person classes, counselors will be available to help students, and local artists will be invited to perform as part of activities aimed at helping students adjust back to school.
The Tacloban City government has also ordered changes in the way classrooms look before students return to private classes.
“All the classrooms will be repainted so that when the children arrive, they won’t remember the horrible incident that happened at school,” Eder said.
Two children aged 14 and 15 opened fire at the school on Monday, June 22, causing three students to lose their lives and 20 others to be injured.
A 15-year-old is facing charges of murder, while a 14-year-old is undergoing an intervention program.
“We are slowly recovering from that trauma,” Eder said.
Security improvements
Eder said the city government, the Philippine National Police, barangay officials, and school principals are working together to make campuses safe, starting with San Jose National High School.
Following the shooting, the school will have a stronger perimeter fence and receive additional security equipment.
CCTV cameras will be installed in key areas of the campus, while panic buttons will be linked directly to the nearest police station to allow school officials to seek immediate help in an emergency.
Eder said similar measures will be gradually introduced in other public schools in the city.
Principals have also been instructed to use the funds available to purchase metal detectors to help prevent weapons and blades from being brought into school premises.
Students, parents, visitors, and even school staff will have to be checked for bags before entering the school premises.
Tacloban City Mayor Alfredo Romualdez has ordered the deployment of two police officers, one male and one female, to each school gate to assist the guards.
– Rappler.com
The quotations were briefly translated into English.
