Headmasters, principals responsible for school safety

PUTRAJAYA: Headmasters and principals must monitor the safety and security aspects in their school as it is their responsibility.
Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh said such responsibilities are part of the Key Performance Index (KPI) of every headmaster and principal.
"Close monitoring is important to ensure the safety of students is given priority and is always at the optimum level," he told reporters after opening the Occupational Safety and Health In School programme at Sekolah Sultan Alam Shah here today.
He was referring to an incident in Johor where three men entered a school compound on the pretext of meeting their children. Once inside, they whipped out knifes and robbed parents who were at the school.
Following the incident, the media had criticised the lax in safety procedures at schools because even journalists managed to enter a school without being screened by the security guards.
Idris said the school management is entrusted with the safety of the students by their parents.
Meanwhile, chairman of The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said apart from the safety and security of the students, the welfare of the workers in schools must also be given priority.
At the event, DuPont Malaysia announced a strategic cooperation plan to support the "OSH in School" campaign, a programme initiated by National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), to inculcate safety awareness among students. – Bernama