KARACHI: In view of rising fears regarding the security of schoolchildren, the director general of private schools on Saturday issued a mandatory 16-point security guidelines.

Weapons training for school staffers, including teachers, and regular emergency drills for everyone have been advised as part of the security guideline issued by director general of private schools (inspection) directorate Dr Mansoob Hussain Siddiqui.

Private schools have been asked to arrange training from the Rangers and police for their teaching and non-teaching staff to use weapons. Schools management must also ensure that the staffers display their identity or service cards during duty hours, besides maintaining visitors’ record, according to the guideline.

Proper verification by police has been made mandatory for the hiring of general and security staff by private schools. The area police stations must be provided complete information regarding number of students, teachers and non-teaching staff by school administrations.

Private schools have been asked to display all emergency contacts of Citizens-Police Liaison Committee, police helpline, Rangers, fire brigade, etc., on notice boards. Also all schools are to keep abreast of nearby hospitals in order to be able to approach them at the earliest in case of an emergency.

According to the security guideline, the school administrations must ensure that the drinking water supply and food items in school canteens are kept clean and safe from contamination or anything such as poison being mixed.

The directorate reiterated the need of raising boundary walls of schools up to 10 feet. The guideline also includes turnstile or mechanical gates with biometric verification and CCTV cameras on school premises. Also, parking of vehicles around school premises should not be allowed.The security guideline also lay emphasis on encouraging parents-teachers meetings and activities.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2016