The Department of Education (DepEd) is set to launch “active shooting drills” in schools as part of a broader effort to prepare students and teachers for what to do and how to respond in the event of future school shootings. The initiative is aimed at improving readiness, reducing confusion during emergencies, and ensuring that school communities know practical steps to take when confronted with a violent incident.
While school leaders and educators have long discussed emergency preparedness—such as fire drills and disaster response—this new program specifically addresses a scenario that many schools have previously had limited guidance on. DepEd’s plan reflects a growing recognition that emergencies can include armed threats, and that preparation cannot be limited to natural calamities alone. By conducting structured drills, the agency intends to help students and teachers develop a clear understanding of expected actions during an active shooting situation.
The drills are designed to teach safety procedures in a realistic and organized manner. Rather than treating emergency response as a one-time announcement or general reminder, DepEd’s approach emphasizes training that can be practiced and reinforced. Students and teachers are expected to learn how to react quickly, how to follow instructions from authorities within the school, and how to reduce risk to themselves and others. The core goal is to create a consistent response across schools so that students and teachers can act more effectively under pressure.
DepEd’s announcement underscores the need for preparedness at the school level. In emergencies, especially those involving sudden violence, people often face panic, misinformation, and uncertainty. Drills attempt to address these challenges by giving school community members a rehearsed framework. Training can also help teachers manage student behavior more effectively during stressful moments, ensuring that evacuation, lockdown, or other emergency steps—depending on the situation—are carried out with discipline and clarity.
The rollout of active shooting drills also signals a shift toward more comprehensive emergency planning. Schools are expected to incorporate the drills into their safety and disaster risk reduction efforts, aligning with the broader duty to protect learners and staff. In addition, the drills may encourage schools to review related protocols such as communication procedures, reporting channels, and coordination with local emergency services. Preparedness is not only about what happens inside the classroom; it also involves ensuring that the school can properly respond and communicate during an incident.
For students, the drills can function as a safety education exercise. By learning what to do during an active shooting scenario, learners may gain confidence in following emergency instructions. The emphasis on student and teacher readiness reflects the intention to create a safer environment where people know how to take action quickly, rather than waiting for guidance during an unfolding crisis.
Teachers, meanwhile, are central to the drills’ effectiveness. As those most directly responsible for supervising students, teachers need training that prepares them to respond calmly and appropriately. The drills aim to ensure that educators have a practical understanding of actions to take, including how to guide students and how to coordinate with school authorities and responders.
The initiative is also likely to require careful implementation to balance realism with student well-being. Emergency drills for violent threats can be stressful, so schools may need guidance on how to communicate the training in a way that supports students emotionally. DepEd’s plan, as described in the news report, is focused on equipping the school community with the knowledge needed to respond effectively if such incidents occur in the future.
Ultimately, the launch of active shooting drills reflects DepEd’s commitment to strengthening school safety and preparedness. By practicing response steps in a controlled environment, students and teachers can become more familiar with emergency procedures before a real incident occurs. The program’s long-term value lies in building confidence, clarity, and coordination so that the response during a crisis is faster and more organized.
Source: Jervis Manahan (via ABS-CBN News).
ABS-CBN News: The Department of Education will launch ‘active shooting drills’ in schools to prepare students and teachers on what to do and how to respond in case there will be school shootings in the future. | via @JervisManahan. #breaking
— @ABSCBNNews May 1, 2026