THE DEPARTMENT of Education (DepEd) will accelerate the hiring of guidance counselor associates and strengthen campus security nationwide following the deadly school shooting in Tacloban City, saying both mental health support and preventive interventions are critical to stopping school violence.

DepEd Undersecretary Malcolm Garma on Thursday said the department is prioritizing the recruitment of guidance counselor associates to ensure students have trained personnel they can turn to before emotional distress or behavioral problems escalate into violence.

“Ang direksiyon natin ngayon is to hire more guidance counselors. Bagama’t may challenge tayo sa (Our direction now is to hire more guidance counselors. While we face challenges in) hiring of full-fledged guidance counselors because of certain eligibility requirements, we will be hiring guidance counselor associates who will be performing the same function,” Garma said in an interview over Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.

He said counseling services would complement existing school-based mental health programs by encouraging students to openly discuss their concerns.

Alongside the mental health initiative, Garma said DepEd has begun a nationwide inventory of school security measures, including the deployment of security guards, installation of closed-circuit television cameras and metal detectors, and the strengthening of coordination with the Philippine National Police to increase police visibility around campuses.

The department also wanted schools to improve perimeter fencing after investigators found that the Tacloban suspects entered the campus by climbing over a low fence despite security checks at the main gate.

Garma said the department continues to provide psychosocial support to victims, teachers, and students affected by the Tacloban tragedy while classes at the school remain suspended.

Learning, he said, will continue through alternative delivery modes until the school community is ready to return to face-to-face classes.

His remarks came as authorities said the attack appeared to have been planned months in advance, prompting broader government efforts to tighten school security and examine possible online influences. (PNA)