Psychiatrist groups seek deferral of DepEd’s live-shooter drills

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Psychiatric Association (PPA) and the Philippine Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (PSCAP) called for the deferral of the Department of Education’s nationwide live-shooter drills, saying the exercises expose learners to “hyper-realistic scenarios of violence.”

DepEd earlier issued a memorandum ordering schools nationwide to conduct a “Nationwide Simultaneous School Safety Drill for Active Attack Incidents” on Aug. 25, Tuesday.

“The conduct of a simulation of a live shooter attack drill should be deferred,” the PPA and PSCAP said in a joint statement on Saturday.

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“Such simulations differ from routine safety drills like earthquake or fire exercises, which are necessary and beneficial,” they added.

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READ: PLDT shuts out sites streaming school shootings, violence

While the groups stressed that preparedness is crucial, they said safety exercises must be trauma-informed and based on scientific evidence.

They cited the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, which found inadequate evidence that high-intensity simulations improve safety outcomes and advised against the use of such drills and deceptive practices.

Furthermore, they cited the American Academy of Pediatrics, which warned against exposing children to high-intensity shooter simulations and emphasized that such drills should not involve deception.

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“School safety is best strengthened through measures that protect without causing trauma. Locks, controlled entry points, and perimeter security should be prioritized,” the two organizations said.

They said schools should consider tabletop exercises instead of live active-shooter simulations, allowing teachers, staff, and parents to discuss and plan responses to hypothetical emergencies.

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“For example, participants might ask: ‘If an intruder enters, who locks the doors? Who calls parents? Where do students go?’” the groups said.

The PPA and PSCAP also stressed the need for inclusive participation, including appropriate accommodations for learners with disabilities, sensory-processing needs, or previous traumatic experiences.

“Each school should conduct a needs assessment before developing and implementing drills, to ensure that the unique characteristics of its community are considered,” they said.

READ: PNP to deploy personnel, resources for DepEd school threat drill

The Philippine National Police on Friday expressed support for the DepEd’s nationwide active-threat school drill scheduled for Aug. 25, committing personnel and resources to the exercise.

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The planned drill follows recent school shootings in Tacloban and Zamboanga City that left five students dead. /mcm