KUWAIT CITY, Sept 14: Minister of Education Sayed Jalal Al-Tabtabaei visited various schools in the Capital Educational District on Monday to assess their readiness for the new academic year, ensure the smooth operation of schools, and look into the overall learning environment, reports. In a press statement, Al-Tabtabaie congratulated the teaching and administrative staff, as well as the students, on the start of the academic year. He expressed appreciation for the efforts exerted by the school staff and wished everyone a productive and successful year, and continuous excellence for the students. During the visit, he listened to the feedback of the teachers, administrative personnel and students, and looked into the readiness of classrooms and educational and service facilities. He underscored the importance of providing a safe, stable and stimulating learning environment from day one.
He affirmed that the field visits to various schools and kindergartens will continue, stressing that readiness, stability and quality of the learning environment are the top priorities of his ministry. He said all observations or needs will be addressed according to priority to ensure the best possible learning conditions. He stressed that the success of the academic year is a shared responsibility, which necessitates the concerted efforts of the ministry, school administrations, educational and administrative bodies, families and students.
Meanwhile, Director of the Public Relations Department at the Ministry of Interior Colonel Othman Al-Gharib confirmed that the security and traffic plans for the new academic year are being implemented. In an interview with Kuwait TV, Al-Gharib pointed out that traffic congestion is expected at the start of the school year, hence, the intensified presence of traffic officers as part of a comprehensive plan that will continue throughout the academic year to ease traffic flow and ensure the safety of everyone. He advised the students and workers to leave early to avoid traffic jams and reach their schools and workplaces easily and safely. He confirmed that the ministry closely monitors the traffic situation through cameras in order to uncover indirect traffic violations.
He said the ‘Rased’ application eases the discovery of violations without obstructing traffic flow. He underscored the need to strictly comply with traffic regulations to make sure that everyone is safe on the roads. He added that the Public Relations and Security Media General Department at the ministry launched its comprehensive awareness campaign at the beginning of the academic year with the theme, “Prevention and Safety.” He stressed that the ministry has always been keen on intensifying the presence of security and traffic officers in schools, especially at the start of the academic year. He said the officers distributed gifts to the students and provided them with advice and awareness guidance. He pointed out that the theme of the campaign covers intellectual, traffic, security, environmental safety, cybersecurity and drug prevention in a bid to raise the awareness of students and protect them from various dangers.
He also affirmed the continuation of the awareness campaign throughout the academic year through the presence of specialized security media personnel in schools, interaction with students, and distribution of gifts. He revealed that the representatives of the Police Association are participating in this campaign through social and awareness initiatives. He indicated that some negative practices have been observed in front of schools, such as blocking the road, driving against traffic and driving on sidewalks. He asserted that these practices endanger the students and other road users, hoping that such practices will end through the heightened security presence and ongoing awareness campaign. He warned that the ministry does not tolerate any violation, especially within the vicinity of schools, as the protection of students is its top priority.
By Munif Naif Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff and Agencies
