When parents have conversations between themselves regarding choosing a proper school for their little one from a bunch of options, they consider a lot of facts and weigh the pros and cons of each fact. Besides the academic excellence of the school, safety in school is another vital fact that they are always concerned about. A school that has a good management system will have a stern hold on the security system and that is a major part of its project management system.
Educational leaders and administrative departments have always emphasized how can schools improve safety and security. A school management and leadership program is ideal for professional teachers who want to be a part of a school’s administration.
This course is effective enough to teach the nitty-gritty of leadership roles that one must play being a school leader. The leadership and management of a school leader or administrator are to ensure an excellent academic performance by students along with safety for students, teachers, and every other staff.
ROLE OF PARENTS IN KIDS’ SAFETY AT SCHOOL:
Before enrolling their kids in any regular school, parents must teach their children about all the safety measures that kids should follow at school. A school community does provide a lot of safety and security to kids but then again, parents must teach these basic safety measures to them. There are ways to be safe at school and kids should practice these measures.
- Wearing face masks to avoid inviting covid-19.
- In can case of any bully, kids must inform the teachers and the anti-bullying squad.
- The difference between good touch and bad touch must be taught at any cost.
- In case of emergency situations, kids must have a telephone directory from where they can call the required person over the phone.
- High school students should be taught to stay abstain from drugs and any other intoxicants.
- Drinking water from taps should be avoided due to the impurities.
- Getting involved in a brawl is a big no-no.
- Not to accept food or any drink from strangers.
- While going to the washroom kids must make sure that locks are in order
Apart from these, there are many other points that parents can teach their kids. Senior leaders at school must make sure that there are enough safety measures at school so that students are safe. One of the biggest leadership skills is to ensure absolute security to staff and students of the school.
INCREASING SAFETY AT SCHOOL EFFICIENTLY:
To begin with, beyond any other safety process another issue that causes a lot of problems to students is mental health. A few years back, social media came up with news that spread faster than wildfire. A brilliant 10th standard student committed suicide in the school’s washroom some months before the board examination as that student was scared of attempting the board exam due to over expectations from parents and also, had failed to score more than the topper.
There is where the regular mental health check-up comes to reality and must be conducted periodically. This is of utter importance as it will help the school authorities to understand how is the life of students if they’re capable enough to undertake the immense pressure, or is there something else that is bothering their studies, etc., must be known to teachers and counselors to avoid such heartbreaking situations.
This is one of the significant aspects of school leadership development. Executive leadership of a school should try its level best to diffuse any kind of scenario that is fatal. However, there are certain tangible aspects that schools must be aware of and must always look into it.
1. CCTV
In classrooms, corners of the corridor, playground, auditoriums, assembly hall, and anywhere in school, there should be CCTV cameras. The CCTV cameras should always be on and be continuously monitored by a security member very strictly. This will make sure that anything happening on the school premises is being followed. Cameras must be placed at proper places throughout the school to take advantage of school safety.
2. GPS facility for transport service.
All the buses should be equipped with GPS facilities so that parents can track their kids while going to school and coming back home. Also, the buses should also have CCTV cameras installed to assure the double safety of students while traveling. Transport attendance of every single student availing the bus or any other transport service while boarding on and off the bus is strictly recommended.
3. Staff Verification
Verification of all staff, especially the non-teaching staff (attendants, peon, driver, conductor, etc.) before hiring them either on a permanent or temporary or contract basis should be done with utmost priority. This step is absolutely mandatory and schools should pay a great deal of attention to it.
4. Attendants at Washrooms
There are several heartbreaking news on televisions and social media regarding mishappenings at school where washroom attendants are thoroughly involved. These cases have petrified parents and they are somehow panicked whenever they think of their kids going to the school washroom. School management must make sure that washrooms for students and staff should be different and proper hygiene must be maintained. A CCTV camera must be placed in front of the washroom section so that it can be vividly seen who all are entering the washroom and leaving.
5. Monitor Visitors Carefully
Schools should become more assertive in selecting visitors, by employing security personnel who will register the visitors when entering the building or campus. The child should be allowed to leave the campus only when an authorized adult comes to pick the child up. Staff and students should be instructed to report people without proper identification. In any case, where people other than parents come to pick up a child, school administration should ask the parents to give the names of the adults who are further required to show identification to the school personnel while picking the student at the school.
6. Regular Workshops
The administration should be cautious in spotting events before they happen. Conduct regular workshops to inform students, parents, and teachers. Also, hold regular explaining sessions with non-educational staff such as drivers, cleaners, and attendants.
7. Preventive Measures
Take preventive measures from unwanted incidents taking place. Make all teachers from every class responsible for the safety of the children in the school. Unused rooms must be marked abandoned and sealed so as to prevent any nuisance and key at all times and make sure that no child is ever alone with any male staff.
Thus, the leadership training provided by the management and leadership program enhances the emotional intelligence of teachers and administrators, as well as they, gather a high potential of running a school quite efficiently. This certificate program is ideal for teachers who want to become a significant part of the school administration system to cater to the needs of the students and provide ultimate safety to students, teachers, and staff.
