(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) has launched the second version of its 'Safe School' programme for the academic year 2014-2015, with plans to expand its scope to encompass 25-30 schools in the country.
Under the slogan 'Safe Behaviour, Less Risk, and Effective Response,' the programme is conducted every Sunday at a different Supreme Education Council school, applying an all-day theoretical and practical training scheme with two breaks.
At the end of the day, booklets and fliers are distributed and a disaster simulation scenario is practised to foster the knowledge and skills acquired during the theoretical part.
The purpose of the programme is to promote a culture of safe behaviour and societal risk management to prevent, reduce or properly deal with risks, by developing practical experience and skills among youngsters, teaching them general concepts of disaster risk reduction, and letting them practice emergency plans and evacuation rules very seriously as if they were facing a real disaster.
This will help produce a whole generation of Qataris who have the highest level of disaster preparedness.
The programme syllabus also covers meaningful topics in relation to the safety and security of society members; raises awareness of the importance of environment protection among schoolchildren, teachers, administrative staff, bus supervisors, and even parents (through the students themselves); urges them to adopt safe behaviour as a lifestyle; and deepens their sense of responsibility for themselves and for others.
The programme employs a progressive strategy that targets Qatar educational institutions to utilise schooling as a way of community education and creation of dynamic and broad-minded personalities, rather than a rigid, backward instructional system limited to theoretical textbooks that spread passiveness and inaction among students.
In his remarks about this significant informative programme, QRC Secretary-General Saleh bin Ali Al-Mohannadi said, "The project first emerged as an idea in May 2013. It involves several training courses for students over an entire school day to increase their awareness and ability to respond to earthquakes, fires, accidents, and other disasters. It also delivers educative lectures on the principles of first aid, psychological support, and road safety for administrative staff, teachers, and bus supervisors to ensure effective and quick response in case of emergency."
During 2013-2014, the programme was conducted successfully in 19 schools across the nation, benefiting 6,622 students of all educational stages (kindergarten, primary, preparatory, and secondary), as well as 573 teachers, administrative staff, and bus supervisors.
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