Latest news with #studentsafety
Times of Oman
20 hours ago
- 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
a day ago
- 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
2 days ago
- 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."
Washington Post
5 days ago
- Washington Post
China issues safety warning for its nationals studying in the Philippines
BEIJING — China's Education Ministry issued a safety warning for Chinese students in the Philippines after what it said were a series of criminal incidents targeting them. The brief warning Friday did not identify any specific incidents but told students to increase their safety awareness should they choose to study in the Philippines. The number of Chinese students in the country was not given but enrolments have fallen to just a few hundred in recent years, according to the Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post.
Asharq Al-Awsat
26-06-2025
- Automotive
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Double-Decker Bus Carrying Students Plunges into River in England in ‘Terrifying' Crash
A double-decker bus carrying high school students plunged into a river in southern England on Thursday, sending the driver and four teens to the hospital and leaving more than a dozen others with minor injuries, officials said. The bus was bound for Barton Peveril Sixth Form College, a school for 16- to 18-year-olds, when it sped off a road in Eastleigh and plunged into the River Itchen. The cause of the wreck was being investigated by police and the bus company. Police said there was no indication why the bus veered off the road. But a woman who lives nearby and heard a screeching sound and saw the bus crash through roadside barriers into the water said the driver told her he couldn't stop. Kelly West, who helped some of the students to safety, said the bus was going close to 60 mph (nearly 100 kph) and said it was like a scene out of "Speed," the Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock film about a bus barreling through Los Angeles. "One of the young adults said the bus was just getting faster and faster as it came down the road and they didn't know what he was going to do," West said. "I can well imagine they were all thinking they were going to die, quite frankly." Inspector Andy Tester of the Hampshire Constabulary said it "must have been terrifying." All 19 passengers on board were either able to get off the bus or were rescued, police said. The bus driver, who was trapped, and one student had serious injuries but were expected to survive. West said the driver was alert and sharp, but panicking. She reassured him that help was on the way. "He said the brakes failed and the accelerator was jammed and that he was trying to avoid cars," West said. The bus was sitting upright in the river, next to a bridge, water up to its axles. Its front windows were smashed and mud was splattered on its side. A large section of bridge railing was missing. About 14 students were treated at the scene by paramedics, the South Central Ambulance Service said. Two helicopters, five ambulances and fire crews responded to the crash. Bluestar Bus said it did not immediately know the circumstances of the crash.
