Education authority in Beijing releases standards for building safe schools

Local education authorities in Beijing have released a set of pilot standards for how to build safe schools for children and teenagers in the city, reports Beijing Daily.

The standards, released by the Beijing Municipal Education Commission, plan to make all kindergartens, elementary schools, and middle schools meet new safety requirements by the year 2020.

A total of 92 standards across eight categories are included in the document. They cover areas including safety regulations, security personnel, safety education, and emergency management.

When it comes to campus safety, important areas of the school like the gates to the teaching buildings, dormitories, and canteens should be equipped with surveillance cameras. Security-related information should be stored for at least one month.

The standards also specify the ratio between the number of professional security guards and the number of staff and students at a school.

In addition to compulsory safety education, emergency evacuation drills should be carried out every month in elementary and middle schools, and every three months in the kindergartens, according to the new standards.

Schools will also need to make efforts to prevent bullying, and to provide psychological counseling for bullied students.

Local educational authorities in each district of Beijing will be responsible in implementing the standards under the guidance and supervision of the Beijing Municipal Education Commission.