ARE WE STILL SAFE?

UNEDITED SAMPLE EDITORIAL ARTICLE
By Marian Denise Glipo Basallote
IV-Madame Marie Curie


Everyone considers a school as a learning institution with a secure and harmless environment. How capable is a school of ensuring its students with safety? How devoted are the school officials in fulfilling their vital duties and obligations? How concerned are they with the welfare of the innocent students whose only desire is to feed their minds with knowledge? How much assurance do parents get when they entrust their children into the hands of the school officials?

In spite of the safety measures they adapt, some schools still fail in securing their students with protection. Unforgivable crimes still occur within the school premises. As a result, the students’ lives are put at a great stake. Just recently, a rape case of a sixteen year-old student in Polytechnic University of the Philippines has been reported. According to the victim, she was forced to drink liquor allegedly laced with drugs before the suspects took turns in raping her. According to reports, investigators were looking at the possibility the abuse was part of an initiation to an organization, which was not recognized by the school.

It is depressing to know that this kind of crime has actually happened inside the school campus. The school obviously lacked security personnel. Moreover, it did not follow a strict enforcement and guidance of rules and regulations. The regular monitoring of organizations was also neglected. Thus, the students had no fear of committing such crimes that would bring no one good. It appears that these young students had the easiest way of accomplishing their evil plans. It cannot be denied that with this unfortunate incident comes along its dreadful effects, such as trauma and depression. Now, what is left of the victim who faced the cruelty of moral degradation?

This appalling issue is clearly trying to send out an important message to each one of us. It is calling for an immediate action that can only be effective through our concerted efforts. School officials should take their responsibilities in a more serious manner. Thus, the strict regulation of school policies should be implemented and the proliferation of non-accredited organizations should be inhibited by the school administration. The rampant spread of crimes in learning institutions should be prevented in any means possible because the lives of the students are the ones at grave risk.