The Ministry of Education is to link school premises and locations with security and rescue departments such as the department of Civil Defense for speedy intervention on occasions of emergencies there, Vice Minister of Education Khaled Al-Sabti declared to Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper.
Al-Sabti confirmed that the ministry does not object linking the system with any entity when asked about the possibility of providing the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice.
In a press statement following the opening of the first workshop on safety and security in schools in Riyadh yesterday, the vice minister of education denied any pressure to set up this workshop to discuss security and safety, alluding to the importance of concentrating efforts to secure a safe educational environment in its comprehensive concept.
“There will be no laxity in the matter of safety and security in our schools. Schools are a great responsibility and any mistake in issues related to safety and security is unacceptable,” Al-Sabti said.
He pointed out that the ministry is looking forward to making a quantum leap in safety and security seeking to achieve leadership ambitions and hopes in this field. The workshop aims to focus on safety and security in schools and to develop a working plan to enhance safety levels through an integrated system.
Meanwhile, Hamad Al-Sheikh, vice minister of education for boys, confirmed that the first step that must be carried out by safety and security management is to prepare an integrated system of standards and applications in coordination with the relevant entities. In addition, it is very important to train all elements and coordinate with the related entities.
Speaking at the event, Vice Minister of Education for Women Noura Al-Faiz said the issue of safety and security is one of the most important issues to be dealt with by the ministry and the relevant authorities. She stressed the need for easing procedures, delegation of powers, attention to preemptive aspects and transparency in dealing with the media.
In the same context, Majid Al-Harbi, director general of the Safety and Security Department at the Ministry of Education, said: “We are desperately in need of developing certain approaches regarding working mechanisms and safety and security perspectives. We hope that this workshop will achieve its objectives."
The workshop will familiarize participants from all relevant entities both inside and outside the ministry with the directorate general of safety and security in schools and its objectives, tasks and directions during the present stage.
“We anticipate that through this workshop, we will reach a conception that should regulate the relations between the participant entities, to define their tasks and ensure the coordination and integration among them.” Al-Harbi added.
In addition, the workshop will raise the participants’ awareness of the importance of safety and security in schools, and the most prominent values and applications associated with this concept, and look into some notable experiences.
The director general of safety and security pointed to the basic points of the workshop, which include encouraging all the relevant entities to present their views regarding the safety and security in schools, and the fields in which it could contribute.
The workshop was organized with the participation of a number of relevant entities, including the General Directorate of the Civil Defense, Saudi Electricity Company (SEC), Saudi Red Crescent Authority, the General Traffic Department, the Presidency for Meteorology and Environmental Protection (PME), the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice as well as Saudi Aramco.
The workshop aimed to explain the concepts of the ministry and the relevant entities about establishing a new system of values, relations, processes and procedures that contribute to the achievement of the safety and security in schools, and how to activate this concept and turn it into reality.
To deal with emergencies, schools to be linked with security agencies
