BARMM forming task force to protect schools, learners

COTABATO CITY – The Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is spearheading the creation of a multi-sectoral School Safety Task Force (SSTF) to protect learners, educators, and the general public against school violence across the region.

Lawyer Abubakar Katambak, MBHTE deputy minister, said Wednesday the move is to ensure the safety and security of schools, teachers and learners across the Bangsamoro region, following the fatal campus shooting in Banga, South Cotabato over the weekend.

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“Every learner has the right to a safe and peaceful learning environment. Schools must be places where children can learn and grow without fear of violence, threats, or harm,” Katambak said in a statement.

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Katambak convened education officials in the BARMM for a coordination meeting and consultation on Monday to discuss strategies and interventions to strengthen school safety and security.

Katambak said the SSTF will help strengthen collaboration among teachers, parents, school administrators, law enforcement agencies, local government units, and community leaders.

He said the marching order from Interim Chief Minister and concurrent MBHTE Minister Abdulraof Macacua is to promote a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment where every learner can study, and every teacher can work with greater peace of mind and security.

“No child should go to school afraid that they might not make it home,” Katambak said, adding that Macacua was deeply concerned about the incidents in South Cotabato, Zamboanga and Tacloban, and that he ordered steps be taken to prevent it from happening in BARMM.

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“We should not wait for such an incident to happen in our own region before we act. We need to take appropriate action now,” Katambak said.

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He stressed that “the safety and welfare of our children are not the sole responsibility of schools but shared by the government, teachers, parents, school administrators, law enforcement agencies, community leaders, religious leaders, Indigenous Peoples, and society as a whole.”

Katambak said the SSTF is composed of representatives from concerned government agencies, schools, law enforcement authorities, teachers, parents, students, mental health professionals, traditional Islamic religious leaders and teachers, leaders of different faiths, representatives of Indigenous Peoples, and other stakeholders.

SSTF would ensure improved security at school entrances and exits, proper emergency preparedness and training, a rapid and confidential system for reporting threats or incidents, stronger anti-bullying programs, and adequate counseling and psychosocial support for children experiencing serious problems, trauma, bullying, or emotional distress.

READ: Sultan Kudarat city turns to remote learning after Banga shooting

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“The active involvement of parents is also crucial. It is not enough to simply ask our children how their day went. We need to listen to them, understand what they are going through, know their friends and problems, and be aware of concerns they may not be able to express at school,” Katambak said./coa