The Department of Education (DepEd) announced on Friday, August 12, about its plan to have at least one security personnel per school to ensure safe spaces for learners, teachers, and other non-teaching employees.
DepEd made the statement after an incident of sexual harassment of four elementary teachers in Ocampo, Camarines Sur.
According to initial information, the teachers were preparing for the upcoming reopening of classes when an armed man entered the school grounds and allegedly harassed them sexually in broad daylight.
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To guarantee hiring of security personnel, DepEd Spokesperson Michael Poa said they would enter into an agreement with other agencies.
The Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) aims to use the special education fund collected by local government units as a funding source for things like repairs of schools and hiring of at least one security personnel per school. The JMC has yet to be drafted. There is no set target date yet for signing,
Poa said.
The DepEd condemned the alleged sexual harassment, saying the department is now working on a JMC with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Department of Budget and Management.
The Alliance of Concerned Teachers also emphasized that during the current setup, safety risks thrive in schools and voiced out the need to hire security personnel.
The incident only exposes the vulnerability of our schools to scumbags who are out to harm innocent people. This should serve as a wake-up call for the government, which has neglected our schools for so long that they cannot even employ security personnel to guard the safety of our teachers and learners. Such neglect should stop now,
the ACT said.
Meanwhile, the DepEd appealed to the Philippine National Police to do an investigation on the incident and ensure aid for the victims.
The department will provide the necessary aid to the victims, including financial assistance and psychosocial intervention,
the DepEd said.
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