Latest news with #studentsafety
The Guardian
a day ago
- Business
- The Guardian
North Sydney council votes in favour of potential sale of public street to elite private school Shore
Cash-strapped North Sydney council has unanimously passed a motion to investigate selling a public street to the private Sydney Church of England Grammar school, known as Shore. Shore wants the council to sell part of Edward Street south of Lord Street in North Sydney. The school says it wants to improve traffic through a bottleneck area regularly used for drop-off and pick-up. The plan would move the current 'traffic snail' within the school grounds and allow Shore to create its own ring road with a turning circle, thereby increasing student safety, the school argues. The North Sydney mayor, Zoë Baker, said Monday night's motion authorised the council's chief executive to investigate the proposal and enter into preliminary discussions with Shore. It was directly linked to the council's financial woes surrounding the blown-out cost of the North Sydney Olympic Pool, Baker said. Councillors wanted to hike residential rates by 87% over two years, but that plan was rejected in May. 'It's pretty well known that North Sydney council is in a fairly fragile financial situation,' Baker said, adding her council inherited the pool redevelopment in 2022 as a 'difficult and overblown' project. 'Council is in a really difficult position, seeking to clean-up and fix those finances so that we leave them better than we inherited them. So we are having to explore every opportunity.' The council said in its budget last month it would seek to deliver $6m in savings or new revenue over the next financial year – including a review of its property portfolio. A spokesperson for Shore read a statement on behalf of the school's principal, John Collier, at Monday's council meeting. They said parents 'agitated' by the proposal were 'actually arguing against their own interests'. The school noted the dead-end road was adjacent to school grounds and did not include residential homes. 'While local residents would lose perhaps four parking spots in Edward Street, the school would probably reduce demand for those spots by enhanced spaces within the school,' Collier said in the statement. 'Shore is happy to work with council to establish a reasonable purchase price based on professional valuations.' Shore will be required to lodge a bond of $20,000 with the council to cover the costs associated with the investigation – which will include a land valuation. Baker amended Monday's motion to also reopen talks regarding a potential land swap as part of the deal. The swap would see the creation of a small, public pocket park on the corner of Mount and Edward streets that the council has been seeking for some time. The mayor said she was aware the loss of any public land, particularly in an area with sky-high land values, would likely be permanent. But she described a swap – and new park – as potentially a 'really good public benefit'. 'Once they're sold, they're gone forever,' Baker said of public lands. 'We're here as custodians and shepherds for the next generation. Disposing or selling an asset leaves the next generation without a resource.' Shore declined to comment on the proposed land swap. Baker expected discussions to take between six and 12 months but stressed there would be significant community consultation. Nothing would happen 'overnight', the mayor said on Tuesday.
Malay Mail
6 days ago
- Malay Mail
‘Planned on WhatsApp': Mara denies link to 15-bike convoy crash that killed three near Seremban
KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 — Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) has denied organising the motorcycle convoy that led to a fatal crash involving 16 students from its affiliated institutions. The agency said the ride was a casual plan by the students and not an official event. 'Based on initial investigations, the convoy activity was an informal initiative casually organised by the students themselves through discussions in a WhatsApp group, without any official involvement from the institution or Mara,' it said in a statement. Three students from Kolej Poly-Tech Mara (KPTM) Bangi died in the crash, while nine others were injured and three escaped unharmed. One student from the German-Malaysian Institute (GMI) suffered minor injuries and is being treated at Hospital Tuanku Ja'afar in Seremban. The incident took place around 2.30am on the North-South Expressway near KM 262 as students returned from a late-night gathering in Seremban. Police believe the first crash occurred when a motorcycle lost control, causing a chain reaction among the group of 15 bikes travelling together. A second crash then took place when a lorry and a car stopped near the scene and another group of students tried to overtake them, colliding with the vehicles. Mara said the three deceased students were Haris Azib Sulaiman, Afkar Fitri Affendi, and Aliff Syahmi Abdul Hakim, whose bodies have been sent to their respective hometowns. The agency said it had channelled RM1,500 in condolence aid to the families and is processing insurance claims of up to RM38,000 for each victim, subject to policy terms. Mara expressed sadness over the tragedy and pledged continued support, including emotional and psychosocial assistance for the affected families and students. It also called for public patience as investigations continue, promising full cooperation with the authorities and a transparent follow-up process.
Times of Oman
22-07-2025
- Times of Oman
Indian schools expand CCTV coverage
Muscat: All Indian schools in Oman are fully equipped with CCTV systems, with additional cameras currently being installed to eliminate blind spots and ensure comprehensive surveillance across campuses. Syed Salman, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Indian Schools in Oman, confirmed to Times of Oman that the schools are already aligned with the latest advisory issued by India's Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), which mandates CCTV coverage to protect the physical and emotional safety of students. 'We've had operational CCTV networks across all our schools since the inception of respective schools,' Salman said. 'Now, we are in the process of further strengthening coverage by installing cameras in blind spots. A dedicated budget had been set aside to ensure these upgrades are carried out efficiently.' The CBSE advisory, issued earlier this week, requires affiliated schools to have surveillance in classrooms, corridors, entry and exit points, and other sensitive areas. It also stresses the importance of maintaining footage for at least 30 days and enabling real-time monitoring, particularly during school hours and examinations. Salman noted that Indian schools in Oman have already implemented these practices and continue to invest in infrastructure upgrades to stay ahead of safety requirements. 'Our systems are not only in place but are actively monitored and periodically reviewed to ensure effectiveness,' he said. 'Safety is a shared responsibility — and a top priority.' With over 45,000 students enrolled across 22 Indian schools in the Sultanate, the move has been welcomed by both parents and educators as a timely step toward creating a secure learning environment.
UAE Moments
22-07-2025
- Health
- UAE Moments
UAE Schools Ditch Trolley Bags Over Health & Safety Concerns
Parents at several institutions have received circulars advising against wheeled bags for the upcoming academic year, with educators and health experts citing safety, practicality, and physical wellbeing as top concerns. From Trendy to Troublesome While trolley bags are seen by many as a convenient choice, some UAE schools argue they're more trouble than they're worth. At Woodlem Schools, the ban is all about student safety. 'The removal of trolley bags across Woodlem Schools is a student-centered initiative aimed primarily at safeguarding students' health and wellbeing," said Noufal Ahmed, Managing Director at Woodlem Education. Ahmed pointed to multiple problems: the strain of dragging the bags, students tripping on stairs, noisy disruptions, and classroom congestion. 'Trolley bags also contribute to clutter in classrooms, increasing the risk of tripping inside the classroom, too,' he added. Instead, the school is boosting its BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy and encouraging digital learning to cut down on heavy books. With lockers provided on campus, students are urged to carry only the essentials in ergonomic, lightweight backpacks. One Size Doesn't Fit All At Shining Star International School in Abu Dhabi, the rules vary by age group. 'We recommend that students in Foundation Stage and Upper Primary use trolley bags, as their shoulders are still developing and carrying heavy loads could strain their spine and body,' a school representative explained. 'For middle and senior school students, backpacks are more suitable. We advise students to pack their bags according to the timetable to keep the overall weight below eight kilograms.' Doctors Are on Board Health professionals across the Emirates are echoing the schools' concerns, emphasizing that trolley bags may not be as safe as parents think. 'While trolley bags may reduce direct pressure on the back, they are not necessarily safe,' said Dr. Amr El Zawahry, Consultant Pediatrician at Medcare Royal Specialty Hospital. 'Tripping hazards are a major concern. Manoeuvring trolley bags in such settings can also lead to wrist and shoulder strain.' He added that students often end up lifting the bags over curbs and stairs, which increases the risk of injury — essentially defeating the point of having wheels. Dr. Maleeha Rafiq, Consultant Paediatrics at NMC Royal Hospital, also warned against misuse. 'Children often use them incorrectly, which can lead to uneven muscle strain, altered walking patterns, and even spinal misalignment,' she said. She added that the oversized nature of trolley bags creates practical issues too: 'They can easily trip other students... and the larger size makes them harder to store neatly in classrooms or buses. Besides, the wheels can be noisy and disruptive.' The Bigger Picture Last August, Abu Dhabi authorities reminded schools that backpacks should not exceed 20% of a student's body weight. Since then, many schools across the UAE have taken steps toward lighter load policies — either by adjusting school bag requirements or implementing tech-friendly alternatives. The takeaway? While a flashy trolley bag might look like a back-to-school win, schools and doctors agree — lighter, smarter, and safer is the way forward.
Khaleej Times
21-07-2025
- Khaleej Times
CBSE mandates CCTV cameras in schools to ensure physical, emotional safety
The Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE) has now made it compulsory for all schools affiliated with it to instal CCTV cameras on their premises. The board made the announcement on Monday, July 21, citing the physical and emotional safety and wellbeing of students as a reason for tightening its surveillance laws. "The school should instal high resolution CCTV cameras with audio visual facility at all the entry and exit points of the school, lobbies, corridors, staircases, all the classrooms, labs, library, canteen area, store room, playground and other common areas except toilets and washrooms with real time audio-visual recording," read the notice. The installed CCTV cameras must have a storage device with the capacity of holding footage of at least 15 days. This will ensure that a backup of a minimum 15 days is preserved, which may be accessed by the authorities, if required. Meanwhile, clause 1(X) of the NCPCR's Manual on safety and security of children in Schools states, "CCTV in schools needs to be monitored and maintained regularly." The board explained the move is to ensure safety from abuse of any kind, violence, psycho-social issues, natural or man made disasters, fire, and transportation. Emotional problems and stress in children, that may have risen due to bullying, may not always be easily detected by teachers or parents, according to the board, pointing towards the need for better monitoring of such incidents. "Bullying can cause victimised students to suffer from lower self-esteem and daily stress about their wellbeing." "Children of our country have constitutional guarantee of the fundamental rights to live with dignity and to have access to education in an environment that is safe, protective and conducive for their growth and development. Everyone in school has a role to play in ensuring good safety, healthy and secure environment within the school; be it teachers, special needs assistants, visitors and contractors and students themselves."
