Manama: Education authorities in the education area of Madinah in western Saudi Arabia have imposed a zero-tolerance policy towards penknives in schools.
Rules banning students from carrying the dangerous blades need to be reinforced and regular searches of bags should be carried out, the authorities said.
The knives hidden inside the pens could be used by students to stab classmates, teachers or administrators in case of a scuffle or a dispute, they said in their memo to all schools, local Arabic daily Al Watan reported on Tuesday.
Education officials attributed their warning and tougher policy to an increase in the number of students who carried penknives to school.
“We need at the same time to have a media campaign to highlight the danger of carrying weapons into classes,” they said. “We also need to intensify searches and inspections to make sure that all students are complying with the rules. Action will be taken against anyone found flouting the school regulations.”
In a separate memorandum, the officials warned teachers and school administrators against corporal punishment of students.
“All forms of physical, linguistic and psychological punishment are banned under the education rules,” they said. “There should be no use of sticks or any tool to punish students as it clashes with the role and mission of schools.”
