Security fences, metal detectors, armed guards and emergency communication systems are part of a package of safety measures for Pakistan’s schools being proposed by UN peace envoy Gordon Brown, the British Broadcasting Corporation reported on Tuesday.
The former British prime minister has held talks with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif about making schools safer after the December 16 Peshawar school massacre that killed over 150 students and staff. Pakistan has suffered more attacks on education than any other country.
Brown said he wanted to help schools “stand up to terrorist violence”. The proposal follows an agreement between Brown and Premier Nawaz to improve the safety of schools in Pakistan
Brown is promoting a plan for safe schools drawn up by education charity, World at School, drawing upon the best practice used in parts of Pakistan or in conflict zones in other countries. The plan calls for creation of peace zones around schools, negotiated with local community and religious leaders.
There are proposals for a more systematic approach to security, including boundary walls and security checkpoints. It calls for armed guards on vantage points such as rooftops and tighter vetting checks on security staff. It warns of concerns over school transport and calls for buses to be checked every day for explosive devices.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 18th, 2015.
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