Safety first: Pupils at SK Methodist (ACS) Seremban posing with their medals during Sports Day in August.
THE safety of students must be held in the highest regard in school grounds.
As a sports teacher in Negri Sembilan for the past 35 years, I feel the organisers of school sports activities should adhere closely to the standard operating procedures (SOP) laid down by the Education Ministry (MoE) to ensure the safety of every person in the arena.
All equipment, as well as facilities, should be checked and in working condition at least 24 hours before an event is held.
In athletics, we must first make the sure the field is clear before throwing events, such as hammer, discus, shot-put and javelin, are held.
Even hurdles are dangerous as a hurdler can break his leg if he attempts to clear the weighted obstacle from the opposite direction.
The teacher-in-charge should be on the field before the students arrive and take their attendance, as well as appoint two quartermasters who will assist him or her in bringing the equipment from the storeroom and back.
If three javelins are used, for example, the teacher must keep an eye on these javelins, and the students, since the latter have a tendency to play with these dangerous implements by throwing them without the instruction of their teacher.
Sporting grounds aside, all other areas and facilities of the school, including the school gates, must be inspected as well.
Most school administrators are interested in beautifying their schools but fail to detect situations where accidents can happen right before their own eyes.
It is the duty of the school head and the student affairs senior assistant to inspect the school for defects or damaged equipment due to factors such as hot weather, heavy rains, termites, vandalism or wear and tear, when their students are not in school.
They should immediately repair the damaged parts, paint the rusty ones and replace old equipment and electrical wiring, so as to ensure the safety of their charges and avoid future accidents.
In addition, school heads must be vigilant during heat waves and haze seasons. They must ensure that each primary school pupil or secondary school student brings a minimum of one litre of drinking water to school, and is given shady shelter from the blazing sun for all outdoor sports.
The discretion of school heads must be accompanied by the views of all teaching staff in their schools to ensure that schools are not run by one-man shows.
It is only then that each school can call itself a “Safe School”, or “Sekolah Selamat” as the MoE calls it.
MICHAEL CHENG
Seremban
