Protection of students and teachers in schools cannot be ignored: EDO Education Pervaiz Akhtar

Lahore: EDO Education Lahore, Pervaiz Akhtar presided over a meeting of headmasters and principals of all A Plus and A category public and private schools of provincial metropolis for making security of educational institutions of Lahore effective, today.

EDO Education emphasized upon the participants of the meeting to strictly implement SOPs issued for the protection of educational institutions. All the heads of the schools informed EDO Education in detail about the steps taken for making security of their respective institutions effective.

Pervaiz Akhtar made it clear that protection of students and teachers in schools is our joint responsibility which cannot be ignored. He said that warning is being issued to those educational institutions which have unsatisfactory security steps. He said that in view of extreme cold, fog and rainy situation, Punjab government decided to close educational institutions for a few days however, benefiting from the holidays, efforts are being made for ensuring protective arrangements in the schools more effective.

EDO Education directed heads of educational institutions to completely implement 20 points of SOPs and ensure fixed height of boundary walls and installation of barbed wire of schools. Besides verification of particulars of security guards, checking of quality of weapons used by them is also necessary, he added. He said that metal detectors and CC cameras should be installed compulsorily in all the schools of A and A Plus category. He said that regular sweeping of the schools should be conducted and a vigilant eye be kept on the surroundings of boundary walls of the schools. He said that only one gate should be used for entry and exit in schools and a movement register replaced at the gate for noting the details of movement of every irrelevant person.

Pervaiz Akhtar directed heads of schools to display emergency telephone numbers in their offices, classrooms and staffrooms and remain in contact with the police van deployed for patrolling of schools and where necessary, get clearance from special branch regarding school premises, adjacent residences and school canteen. He said that carts and venders standing outside schools should be removed. Besides verification of particulars of canteen staff and labourers engaged in development projects, a watchful eye be kept on their activities, he added.