Philippines DepEd scraps active shooter reenactments from school drills

The Philippine Department of Education (DepEd) announced it will discontinue active shooter reenactments during simultaneous nationwide school safety drills set for September 3. The shift in protocol represents a significant change in how the education agency approaches emergency preparedness exercises in schools across the country.

DepEd officials cited expert recommendations in making the decision to remove active attacker simulations from the drills. According to the department, such reenactments risk causing psychological trauma among students and teachers who participate in the exercises, prompting officials to adopt alternative safety training methods.

The revised approach to school safety drills comes as Philippine schools continue efforts to strengthen emergency response protocols. By eliminating realistic active shooter scenarios while maintaining preparedness training, DepEd aims to balance the need for student and staff safety awareness with mental health considerations.

The September 3 drills will proceed as planned nationwide, with schools implementing revised procedures that focus on safety awareness without the psychological stress of simulated active threat scenarios. The agency has indicated that alternative training methods will be employed to ensure schools remain adequately prepared for potential emergencies.