Education: New powers for school principals in weather conditions

In a move aimed at enhancing the safety of the school community and ensuring a rapid response to environmental changes, the Saudi Ministry of Education has granted school principals expanded authority to make appropriate decisions during climate emergencies. This authority empowers principals to notify parents of the need to pick up their children immediately upon receiving official warnings of anticipated weather phenomena, well in advance of their occurrence, based on the guidelines for transitioning from in-person to remote learning.

The context of the decision and the importance of decentralization in crisis management

This decision comes as part of the Ministry's move towards decentralizing emergency management, recognizing the school principal as the primary and most knowledgeable person on the ground, understanding the specific circumstances surrounding their school. This step is particularly important given the Kingdom's vast geographical diversity, where some areas may be affected by severe weather while others remain stable, sometimes rendering centralized decisions less effective. This approach reflects the Ministry's commitment to leveraging advanced digital infrastructure, such as the "My School" platform, to ensure the continuity of the educational process without interruption, even in the most challenging weather conditions.

Mechanisms for dealing with weather warnings

The ministry explained that the preventative measures are divided into two phases. The first phase applies if warnings are received well before the start of the school day, in which case arrangements are made immediately to dismiss students and return them to their families. The second phase applies if warnings are received or if the weather phenomenon occurs suddenly during the school day. In this case, the ministry stressed the importance of keeping students inside classrooms or in designated safe assembly points within the school, and not allowing them to leave except in cases of extreme necessity, while also focusing on their psychological well-being by reassuring and calming them.

Health and environmental safety procedures within schools

Regarding dealing with dust storms, the ministry has mandated that school administrations take strict measures, including:

• Close all windows and doors tightly to prevent dust from leaking in.
• Provide a well-ventilated environment while maintaining the necessary oxygen levels.
• Students should be instructed to use wet wipes or face masks to cover their nose and mouth.
• Close monitoring of students with chronic respiratory illnesses (such as asthma) and ensuring the availability of their medical equipment such as emergency inhalers.

The ministry also stressed the need to activate approved health emergency plans and to immediately transfer any critical health condition affected by the weather to the nearest health center or hospital, in parallel with the implementation of continuous awareness and training programs to raise the readiness of students and teachers to deal with risks.

Criteria for suspending in-person classes and transitioning to distance learning

The Ministry of Education, in coordination with the National Center for Meteorology and Civil Defense, has established precise numerical criteria that necessitate the suspension of in-person classes and the shift to distance learning, including:

• Rainfall: When amounts range from 10 to 50 mm per hour or more.
• Wind: When wind speed reaches 60 km/h or more.
• Horizontal visibility: In cases of heavy dust or fog, visibility is less than 1 km.
• Temperatures: Cold waves (5 degrees below zero or less) and heat waves (50 degrees Celsius and above).
• Wave height: In coastal areas, when the wave exceeds 3 meters.

It is worth mentioning that these measures are intended to ensure that students are not exposed to any health or physical risks, while maintaining the continuity of academic achievement through approved digital channels.