DepEd to Implement 'Big Brother System' Amidst School Violence Surge

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) will implement a “big brother system” and hire more security guards in bigger public schools as it steps up efforts to address the recent surge in violence on school campuses, Education Secretary Sonny Angara announced yesterday. Presiding over the 80th executive committee meeting, Angara led discussions on strengthening school safety programs, including closer coordination with barangay officials and the development of guidelines to help schools respond to various situations. Among the measures agreed upon was the implementation of a big brother system, a mechanism for guidance, support and monitoring of students’ welfare. During the meeting, officials also committed to developing a manual for teachers to help them identify early warning signs and risk factors associated with bullying and school violence. A safety index is in the works for schools and students, following a suggestion from the Department of Justice, to serve as a basis for assessing the level of safety and determining necessary interventions. Following the recent incidents of campus violence, Angara reported that the department is also eyeing the hiring of more security guards, with priority to be given to larger public schools with around 1,000 to 1,500 students. He acknowledged that aside from the learning crisis, DepEd is facing another crisis brought about by violence in schools. “Our suggestion is to start with larger schools because we have observed that most incidents of violence occur in very large schools,” Angara told reporters, adding that the department’s limited budget would require prioritizing schools with larger student populations. Angara also sought the assistance of Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, who has operational control and supervision over the Philippine National Police, in strengthening campus security through increased police and barangay patrols. More metal detectors will be procured to prevent students from bringing bladed weapons onto school campuses, while active shooter drills will now be part of regular school activities to orient students, teachers and school personnel on how to protect themselves during attacks by armed assailants. DepEd’s intensified security measures come after a series of deadly incidents in schools. On June 22, three students were killed and more than 20 others were wounded after two minors, aged 15 and 14, entered two classrooms and opened fire on 40 to 50 of their classmates at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, Leyte. Most recently, a 13-year-old Grade 9 student was stabbed to death by his 14-year-old classmate at Las Piñas National High School on Friday following an argument over a P10 canteen change. In a separate development, the DepEd has issued interim guidelines clarifying the implementation of the Expanded Career Progression (ECP) System for Special Needs Education Teachers (SNET) while revised qualification standards remain pending approval by the Civil Service Commission (CSC). A memorandum issued by the DepEd undersecretary for human resource and organizational development and infrastructure said guidelines specific to special needs education teachers are forthcoming. It directed regional offices and schools division offices to temporarily defer the publication and appointment of vacant and newly created SNET positions pending the CSC’s approval of the revised qualification standards. “Immediate hiring actions using either the existing or proposed position titles may result in inconsistencies with applicable civil service rules and may adversely affect the validity of appointments,” the memorandum read. The ECP System reorganized teaching positions into a new career structure, including the retitling of Special Needs Education teaching positions from SPED Teacher I-V to Teacher IV-VII and Master Teacher I. While incumbent teachers have begun transitioning under the new system, the revised qualification standards for newly created SNET positions have remained pending before the CSC since April 2026. The memorandum also directed field offices to prepare documentary requirements needed to immediately begin hiring once the revised qualification standards are approved. DepEd clarified that the retitling and reclassification of incumbent SNET teachers may continue under existing approved qualification standards as an interim measure. EDCOM 2 welcomed the development, saying it provides much-needed clarity for schools and schools division offices on the continued retitling and reclassification of incumbent SNET teachers while ensuring personnel actions remain consistent with existing Civil Service rules. “These interim measures provide prompt clarification and guidance for our teachers, which is most welcome. We hope that DepEd and the Civil Service Commission can complete their process soon so schools can immediately proceed with the hiring of new special needs education teachers and ensure that learners with disabilities receive the specialized support they need,” said Karol Mark Yee, executive director of EDCOM 2.