THE DEPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) has rolled out the Safe School Environment Audit (SSEA), a nationwide initiative aimed at strengthening campus security, disaster preparedness, and the overall safety of learners, teachers, and school personnel.

According to DepEd, the SSEA seeks to replace fragmented school safety programs with a unified assessment system that measures the overall safety and preparedness of every campus.

The framework consolidates various safety components, including disaster risk reduction and management, child protection, health services, psychosocial support, and physical security, into a comprehensive school safety profile.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara emphasized that providing a safe learning environment is fundamental to achieving quality education, stressing that academic success cannot be attained when the safety of learners and school personnel is compromised.

“We cannot talk meaningfully about quality education if our children, teachers, and personnel do not feel secure inside and outside their classrooms,” Angara said.

“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.

Through the audit, DepEd aims to identify safety gaps and determine which schools require immediate interventions and additional resources to address their vulnerabilities.

Meanwhile, the department is seeking an additional P8.18 billion under its proposed 2027 national budget to finance essential campus security measures and sustain school safety initiatives nationwide.

The proposed funding is expected to support efforts to provide safer and more secure learning environments for students, teachers, and other education personnel.