Filenews 20 December 2023 - by Despina Psilou
Seven measures aimed at tackling violence and delinquency in school premises, which is on the rise, were decided by the broad meeting convened by the Minister of Education Athena Michaelidou.
According to reliable information of philenews, the decisions, which were taken after the submission of opinions of all attendees, are the following:
- Increased guarding and focused and more systematic testing in high-risk schools, with the prospect of implementing the measure in more schools. Re-evaluation of how companies and school guards are selected.
- Installation of advanced surveillance systems in schools through cameras, in full consultation with the Commissioner for Personal Data Protection.
- Enhance lighting in all schools during the night.
- Opening of schools during non-working time, with targeted actions / activities and in consultation with the relevant School Boards.
- Promotion of specific alternative programs for the prevention and handling of violence and delinquency in schools.
- Promotion of all measures of pedagogical empowerment of schools, in accordance with the recent decisions of the Council of Ministers.
- Start a discussion on the use of mobile phones within the school premises during working time.
The meeting was attended by the Chief of Police and officials of the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare, as well as the presidents of the educational organizations OELMEK and OLTEK, the Confederation of Parents of Secondary Education and the Committee of School Boards. The Director-General of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth (YPAN), the Directors of Secondary and Technical Education, the Head of the Educational Psychology Service and the Head of the Health Education and Citizenship Committee also participated. Representatives of the Pancyprian Coordinating Committee of Pupils were also invited to the meeting, but they could not attend.
