THE Manila City Government will push for stricter policies against students linked to violence, as Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso announced plans to file an ordinance that will impose expulsion on learners caught carrying deadly weapons, joining brawls, or proven to have committed bullying.
During the Kapihan ng Samahang Plaridel forum held at the Rizal Park Hotel, Domagoso said the proposed measure aims to make public schools in the city safer and ensure that both students and teachers are protected from any form of violence.
Under the ordinance, any student found in possession of any type of deadly weapon will be permanently dismissed from their public school. The policy also covers students involved in riots or brawls — even if these incidents happen outside school premises and beyond class hours — provided there is an official police or barangay incident report. Those proven to have bullied their classmates will face the same penalty.
According to the mayor, students who are expelled will no longer be allowed to enroll in any of Manila’s 105 public schools, as well as in the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and the Universidad de Manila. However, Domagoso clarified that their right to education is not being taken away, as they may still enroll in schools outside the city or in private institutions.
“I believe education is a right of every citizen, but that right comes with responsibility. We must be accountable for ourselves, for others, and for the community we belong to,” Domagoso stated. He added that the ordinance is part of the city’s intensified efforts to maintain order, discipline, and safety within all learning institutions in Manila.
metrosundaily
