Security and safety are paramount in schools these days. Especially when the children return to classrooms after a pandemic, parents are more concerned about the environment at school. Additionally, increasing crime rates have also raised concern and made parents paranoid about the safety of their children. Hence, every international school in Malaysia must create a safe environment for children.
Whether it is about pre-primary enrolment or class 4 admission in 2023, every parent would enquire about the safety norms followed by the school. When they see a proper safety setup, they will consider your school over all other options in the market. So, schools would have to do everything possible to ensure that physical, psychological, and emotional safety is at the top of the charts.
Tips for setting up a safer and more secure environment in schools
Infrastructural Upgrades
Start with upgrading your infrastructure and introducing all the digital safety devices that ensure the proper safety of the students. For example, installing surveillance cameras that keep an eye on every action happening in the school. Additionally, you can opt for access control devices that ensure zero intruder entry into the school, adding to the safety of your students and staff. The ideal way is to reach out to a professional team and ask them about all the infrastructural upgrades you can do.
Security Teams
Appoint a qualified and experienced security team for your school and assign them proper roles. Keep security at gates, around the school, and in all crucial spots, ensuring a safe environment on your premises. You should conduct thorough safety checks of all the security persons you appoint to ensure that every point in your school is secured.
Setting up Rules
Set rules for students and every staff member and ensure everyone follows them. A rule like no child is allowed to leave school premises during schooling hours until accompanied by a parent or a teacher will ensure that students are not at potential risk. For pre-nursery levels of an international school in Malaysia, there should be a rule that only guardians can come to pick up the students after school. These rules can ensure discipline in school and eliminate the risk of multiple unpleasant incidents.
Psychological Aspects
Mental health is a primary concern and needs the utmost attention of parents and teachers. Children spend most of their time in school, so the teachers should watch their activities. For example, observe their behaviour towards other classmates and their reactions to different situations. You may think they are rude, but it can be a sign of an unpleasant scenario they might be facing. So, if the teachers see anything unusual, they should act upon it and talk to the family about it.
Training or Awareness Sessions
It is crucial to teach young kids about good touch and bad touch. They must be aware of right and wrong to protect themselves. Schools can organise awareness sessions or training programs where qualified professionals teach children about these things and fill them with essential information. Awareness can eliminate potential troubles. Ensure that every student understands what can go wrong and can stand up for his/her own safety.
Open to Feedback
Be open to feedback! You may be doing everything right, but there can still be room for improvement. So, the vital tip is to consult with parents and seek their suggestions about things they think the school should do. It will give you better ideas, and you will also be able to win parental confidence.
Conclusion
With these simple yet effective strategies, every school can ensure the safety and security of its students. Make sure you conduct regular audits and keep a check on things that are working and those that are not to leave no stone unturned in making the parents and the children feel safe and comfortable.
