BACOLOD City — The Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division of Bacolod has expressed alarm over recent incidents of student violence, including a stabbing and a physical assault, prompting education and city officials to strengthen security measures in public schools.
Lila Vaflor Aro, DepEd-Bacolod spokesperson, described the incidents as alarming after a 14-year-old Grade 8 student was allegedly stabbed by a 12-year-old Grade 7 student in front of Sum-ag National High School on Monday, June 29.
The victim sustained stab wounds on his left arm and the left side of his body and continues to receive medical treatment.
The stabbing came just days after a Grade 11 student was allegedly beaten by Grade 10 and Grade 12 students outside Father Gratian Murray Integrated School in Barangay Granada on June 25.
Aro said the division had not recorded similar cases of physical assault or stabbing in schools in previous school years.
“We are only in the first month of the school year, yet we have already recorded these incidents. We did not experience this for many, many years,” she said.
In response, DepEd-Bacolod has recommended stricter security measures in public schools, including the use of gate passes for school partners and visitors, frisking procedures, the installation of handheld metal scanners and walk-through metal detectors, and the increased deployment of police personnel to help secure school campuses.
Aro said handheld metal scanners will be installed in all public elementary and high schools, while walk-through metal detectors will be placed in schools with larger student populations.
She also appealed to parents to closely monitor their children’s activities outside school to help prevent similar incidents.
Meanwhile, Mayor Greg Gasataya said the proposed security measures were discussed during a Local School Board meeting with DepEd-Bacolod officials at the Bacolod City Government Center.
Gasataya said the city government will assess the number of psychologists and guidance counselors assigned to public high schools to determine whether additional personnel are needed.
He added that the Local School Board will allocate funds for the procurement of handheld metal scanners and walk-through metal detectors to enhance campus security.
The mayor likewise urged parents to take an active role in supervising their children’s activities to help ensure their safety both in and outside school./PN
