Al-Ahsa Education Department: Training 500 leaders on child protection protocols 1919
In a strategic move aimed at enhancing the quality of school life and ensuring a safe environment for students, the General Directorate of Education in Al-Ahsa Governorate launched a new phase of field coordination to protect children. This step involved holding an intensive specialized meeting that brought together 500 school principals and vice-principals, with the goal of equipping them with precise legal and regulatory tools for dealing with cases of abuse, and familiarizing them with the rapid intervention mechanisms adopted by the Family Protection Center.
National context for the protection of rights
This educational initiative aligns with the significant efforts undertaken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the field of human rights, particularly children's rights. The Kingdom's Child Protection Law is a cornerstone guaranteeing the rights of children against all forms of abuse or neglect. The Ministry of Education works closely with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development and security agencies to implement the provisions of this law, making the role of school leaders pivotal, as they are the first line of defense and closest to the students, capable of identifying early signs of any danger that may threaten their psychological or physical well-being.
Strategic partnership and security integration
The Director General of Education in Al-Ahsa, Tawashi Al-Kinani, commended this initiative led by the Student Guidance Department, emphasizing that the meeting embodies a vital integration between the educational institution and security and social agencies. He pointed out that providing the highest levels of stability for families and children is a national goal that requires concerted efforts to ensure the upbringing of a generation that enjoys psychological and social well-being and is capable of contributing to building the nation's future in accordance with the objectives of the Kingdom's Vision 2030.
Procedural roadmap for reporting
During the meeting, Saud Al-Hulaibi, Director of Operations for Family Protection Centers in the Eastern Province, reviewed the procedural roadmap for handling reports. Al-Hulaibi explained that the protection process begins immediately upon receiving a call via the unified number "1919," moving directly to the stage of security coordination and, if necessary, immediate field deployment.
Al-Hulaibi explained that the adopted protocol is characterized by accuracy and strictness, as it does not stop at mere monitoring, but includes executive steps that include taking statements, summoning, and personal interviews to assess the level of risk, followed by the formulation of a sound intervention plan in coordination with the competent authorities to ensure the safety of the case immediately.
Continuous monitoring until the danger has passed
Al-Hulaibi stressed that closing any report file is not done arbitrarily, but is subject to a careful stage of continuous follow-up and comprehensive documentation, to ensure that the danger has completely disappeared and that all regulatory procedures that preserve the rights of the child and the family have been completed, which reflects the seriousness of the system in dealing with any threat that affects the safety of children.
Training of educational staff
For her part, the Director of the Student Guidance Department, Ibtisam Al-Driwish, revealed that this awareness campaign is not a one-off event, but rather part of a series of high-quality programs scheduled throughout the academic year. These programs aim to enhance the skills of those working in the educational field and empower them to perform their educational and protective roles with high professionalism, ensuring optimal handling of emergency situations.
The meeting witnessed broad interaction from the school leaders present, as the door was opened for transparent discussion to answer field inquiries, reflecting the keenness of the educational system in Al-Ahsa to apply protection standards in accordance with the latest official approved regulations.
