Schools asked to follow security SoPs

Education EDO says action will be taken against those found negligent

LAHORE: Education EDO Pervaiz Akhtar said on Friday all schools should ensure the implementation of 20-point standard operating procedures (SoPs) issued by the government.

He said warnings had been issued to schools found negligent in implementation of the SoPs. He said strict action would be taken against these schools if they fail to improve security measures.

He was speaking at a meeting with teachers and management of category A and A+ schools in the city. Schools have been put in categories in accordance with their performance on implementation of the SoPs on security arrangements. The EDO dispelled the impression that security threats had led the government to vacations in education institutes. He said the vacations were announced in view of the extreme weather. He said the schools should take advantage of the opportunity and improve their security arrangements.

He said all schools were required to raise their boundary walls and to put barbed wires on them. He said installation of closed circuit television cameras and use of metal detectors to check those entering the buildings should be ensured. The contact details of police, rescue 1122 and fire emergency services should be displayed at a place accessible to all students and teachers, he said. He asked the schools to run background checks on their people employed as security guards.

The school managements’ representatives were asked to provide access to the school premises through only one point. Separately, the city police have decided to start a weapons training programme for guards employed at schools across the city.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 30^th,  2016.