Lack of sports making youth go astray

High school students are adopting deviant behavior because of a rising pupil-teacher ratio at schools and a lack of sports, social and cultural activities, according to a local academic.
Abdul Aziz Al-Duwiesh, from Imam Mohammad ibn Saud Islamic University, pointed out in a study recently that security awareness programs at schools are largely ineffectual because there are too few staff available, poor coordination and communication between schools and security agencies and a lack of training programs on security issues.
In addition, Al-Duwiesh said a traditional approach to behavioral therapy for pupils was further undermining these programs. This has resulted in a situation where schools are now considering abandoning these activities. He said school principals and supervisors should deal with these problems.
He said successful security programs require effective cooperation between security agencies, the media, families, local communities and civil society institutions. More staff should be appointed and school administrators must be given more leeway in communicating with security representatives.
He urged the country's scholars to visit schools more often to provide guidance and extra-curricular activities.
“There is quite obviously miscommunication between schools and local communities,” he said. Schools can play a significant role in these security activities but are failing to do so because they are burdened with administrative problems, he added.