Back to school: Educational institutions to tighten security

PESHAWAR:

The provincial government has directed all educational institutes in the province to tighten security arrangements before schools reopen after summer vacations.

This was stated in a handout issued on Saturday.

“However, all government and private schools are strongly urged to make all the necessary security measures beforehand,” read the statement. “If the appropriate steps are not taken strict action would be taken against schools.”

According to the handout, the government has directed all district administrations to keep a close check on the security measures being adopted at various institutes.

Following the Army Public School massacre, the government had taken a series of measures to boost security arrangements at schools. It laid down standard operating procedures (SoP) for schools to upgrade their security arrangements. Most institutes were encouraged to raise boundary walls over eight feet and fence them with barbed wire to stave off any acts of terror. The government also made it mandatory for schools to register with the SOS Alert service which was introduced earlier this year.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 30^th, 2015.