Students of San Jose National High School in Tacloban City return to campus on Monday, July 6, two weeks after a mass shooting left three students dead and 20 others injured. —Photo by Joey A. Gabieta
MANILA, Philippines — The Psychological Association of the Philippines (PAP) on Monday urged schools, families, communities, and policymakers to adopt a coordinated and long-term approach to prevent school violence, noting that safety in educational institutions cannot be achieved through isolated measures alone.
In a statement released following the school shooting in Tacloban City and the subsequent incidents of school violence and crimes involving minors, PAP called for stronger school mental health systems, increased access to qualified mental health professionals, and collaborative efforts among institutions involved in child welfare and protection.
“Preventing school violence is therefore not the responsibility of schools alone. It requires sustained collaboration across the relationships, environments, and systems that shape children’s and adolescents’ lives,” said PAP, the national professional organization representing psychologists and other members of the psychology profession in the country.
