A comprehensive study of safety and security measures at the country's schools, and all other education buildings and warehouses, has been launched by Prince Faisal Bin Abdullah Bin Muhammad, Minister of Education. The study is expected to be completed within two months. This comes in the wake of the fire at the Bara'em Al-Watan Private Girls' School in Jeddah last Saturday, which claimed the lives of two female teachers and injured about 46 female students and teachers. “Although the preliminary investigation of the fire at the Bara'em Al-Watan school indicates it was deliberately started by a number of young female pupils, this does not absolve those concerned of their responsibility to provide proper safety and security measures,” said Prince Faisal. Prince Faisal issued directives to the Legal Administration and Follow-up General Administration to work with the Education Administration on the investigation results issued by the Civil Defense Administration (CDA) in Jeddah Governorate. Another report that must be studied is that of the committee chaired by the Deputy Minister of Education for Girls' Education, said Prince Faisal. He also ordered that those found negligent should be punished. In addition, all the recommendations and measures taken should be made public, whatever the results. In his statement Friday, Prince Faisal said school principals and directors of education administrations have been given the necessary powers to provide proper safety and security measures at their schools. He added that education officials who do not provide administrative and financial support for principals and directors will be held accountable by the ministry for their actions.
