DepEd launches unified audit program to assess school safety

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The Department of Education (DepEd) is launching an audit system to assess campus safety measures following three fatal school shootings that shocked the country.

Called the Safe School Environment Audit (SSEA), the project also comes amid growing fears over the effects of the Super El Niño on learners and the conduct of classes.

According to the DepEd, the SSEA replaces fragmented safety programs with a unified checklist that covers a school's overall readiness in terms of disaster risk reduction, child protection, health services, psychosocial support, and physical security.

"We cannot talk meaningfully about quality education if our children, teachers, and personnel do not feel secure inside and outside their classrooms," DepEd Secretary Sonny Angara said in a statement.

"This audit isn't just about ticking boxes; it's a tool to see where our schools stand across all safety domains so we can pour targeted support exactly where it's needed," he added.

Under the SSEA framework, schools must check their readiness in five areas: safety management, supportive environment, safe facilities and school access, emergency preparedness and response, and post-disaster recovery.

The schools themselves will use direct observation, interviews, and document reviews to evaluate their own readiness in these areas, DepEd said. Once the self-assessment is done, higher education offices will validate the results.

The DepEd said this would help learners feel safer, while giving teachers and staff clear emergency protocols.

"Security and well-being are shared responsibilities. We are working hand-in-hand with our local chief executives, parent-teacher associations, and community partners to ensure that our schools remain genuine sanctuaries of hope," Angara said.

Following the three recent school shootings, the government has sought to step up campus safety, with DepEd even rolling out a national school safety drill. The active shooter reenactment was later dropped from the drill, amid concerns that it would traumatize young learners.

The DepEd said it is asking for an additional P8.18 billion in the proposed 2025 budget for school safety measures. — VDV, GMA News