Psychiatrists ask DepEd: Do live-shooter drills really keep students safe?

National

CAN rehearsing a school shooting make students safer—or expose them to harm?

Two psychiatric groups are asking the Department of Education (DepEd) to defer nationwide live-shooter drills, citing a lack of evidence that the exercises prevent attacks or reduce casualties.

In a joint statement on Saturday, the Philippine Psychiatric Association (PPA) and Philippine Society for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (PSCAP) said high-intensity simulations that “expose learners to hyper-realistic scenarios of violence” may cause lasting psychological harm.

The groups said preparedness remains important, but safety exercises should be trauma-informed and grounded in scientific evidence. They cited the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, which found inadequate evidence that high-intensity simulations improve safety outcomes and advised against such drills and deceptive practices. The American Academy of Pediatrics has likewise warned against exposing children to high-intensity shooter simulations and deception.

PPA and PSCAP said schools should instead prioritize protective measures such as locks, controlled entry points and perimeter security.

DepEd earlier ordered public schools nationwide to conduct a “Nationwide Simultaneous School Safety Drill for Active Attack Incidents” on Aug. 25. The directive followed the Aug. 18 shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University (AdZU), where a Grade 10 student was killed. The 14-year-old Grade 8 gunman later died by suicide.

Instead of live simulations, the psychiatric groups recommended tabletop exercises that allow teachers, staff and parents to discuss responses to hypothetical emergencies, including who would lock doors, contact parents and direct students to safety.

They also called for accommodations for learners with disabilities, sensory-processing needs or previous traumatic experiences.

“Each school should conduct a needs assessment before developing and implementing drills, to ensure that the unique characteristics of its community are considered,” they said, as quoted by the Inquirer.

The first active-shooter drill was held at Manila Science High School in July after a June 22 shooting at a Tacloban City school. Two student suspects were arrested, while three students were killed and at least 20 were wounded.

Following the AdZU shooting, the university said it would tighten campus security, including more thorough vehicle inspections, stricter identification checks, closer monitoring of entry and exit points, and tighter visitor access.

AdZU president Fr. Ernald Andal, SJ., also said the university would enhance its security facilities by adding CCTV cameras, metal detectors and X-ray machines, among other measures.(MyTVCebu)