RIYADH: The Riyadh seminar on “Security Awareness in General Educational Methods” heard Monday of the threats posed by pupils dropping out of education, with figures stating that 78 percent of persons implicated in terrorist ideology and security cases left school early. Attendees also heard that 72 percent of school principals and teachers had not taken courses in intellectual security skills and that 99 percent of all school principals had carried out security awareness and intellectual security programs with no subsequent assessment of the effects. The seminar heard calls for a reformulation of national education to help further a sense of national identification and intellectual security, and for teacher training in how to correctly put security programs into effect and emphasize the importance of dialogue and moderation, without adding programs or study curricula given that they already focus on the concept of security and justice. Their correct implementation, the conference heard, should be carried out through studies into the effects of security programs given to pupils and the measuring of the extent to which they are successful. Attendees said that a national program dedicated to security in its various aspects was required and that it should be adopted by the Ministry of Education and put into effect in public education schools. Hissa Al-Wa'ili of Islamic Awareness said that studies showed that female teacher absentee rates were proving an obstacle to school security awareness programs, as was the use of non-educational methods, and called for age and individual considerations to be taken into account when instructing girls. The sessions looked at promoting security awareness and building experience, how they are carried out in education curricula, and the view of teachers in that regard. Proposals were made for studies of curricula and finding balance between national security and the fundamental concepts of security, increased numbers of programs in official school activities, and staff training for the correct ways of conveying security information. Participants also noted some of the various schemes such as the “School Protects Society” plan to be introduced soon and the drugs-advice hotline number already in operation. Prior to the seminar, which was held at King Faisal Conference Hall in Riyadh Monday, Prince Faisal Bin Abdullah, Minister of Education, said that security would remain a significant concern for all nations “to accomplish growth, prosperity and progress”. “Development can only take place in an environment with no disturbances or threats,” he said. “Certain skills are first acquired in schools… the teacher is the trusted citadel for protecting students from deviant ideological orientation in all its forms.”
