DepEd urges schools to tap PTAs as frontline partners in preventing school violence

Education Secretary Sonny Angara on Friday urged schools nationwide to maximize Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) as frontline partners in preventing school violence, saying stronger coordination between schools and families is key to protecting learners.

The call comes as the Department of Education (DepEd) seeks to tighten safety measures to protect learners, teachers, and stakeholders following recent incidents of violence and threats at schools in different parts of the country.

"Schools cannot do this alone. Parents cannot do this alone. Pananagutan nating lahat ang kaligtasan ng ating mga anak, at ang PTA ang isa sa pinakamahalagang tulay na nagdurugtong sa pamilya, paaralan, at komunidad upang mapangalagaan ang bawat mag-aaral," Angara said.

(Schools cannot do this alone. Parents cannot do this alone. We all share the responsibility of keeping our children safe, and the PTA is one of the most important bridges connecting families, schools, and communities to protect every learner.)

The Education secretary said DepEd Order No. 13, s. 2022, or the Omnibus PTA Guidelines, already provides schools with a framework for working closely with parents to identify learner concerns early, strengthen child protection efforts, and support students who may need intervention.

Angara encouraged schools to use PTA assemblies and regular meetings not only for administrative concerns but also to discuss learner attendance, behavior, mental health, anti-bullying initiatives, responsible digital citizenship, and other issues affecting student welfare.

"Our conversations with parents should not begin only when a problem has already occurred. The PTA gives us the opportunity to build trust, identify warning signs early, and work together before issues escalate," he said.

He also urged PTAs to organize parenting seminars, digital safety orientations, values formation activities, and community partnerships with local governments, barangays, youth organizations, and health professionals to help create safer school environments.

The education chief said the initiatives complement DepEd's ongoing efforts to strengthen campus security, learner protection, and psychosocial support nationwide.

"The strongest safeguard against violence is a community that knows its children well,” Angara said.

"When parents and teachers communicate regularly, when schools work closely with local governments and community partners, and when learners know they have trusted adults they can turn to, we create an environment where problems are addressed early and every child feels safe, supported, and valued."

The appeal follows a series of school safety incidents this week, including the fatal shooting at a high school in Tacloban City, a stabbing incident involving students in Zamboanga City, and supposed reports about violent acts in Quezon City and Cebu City, that prompted heightened security measures in several schools across the country. — VDV, GMA News