Sharjah: Sharjah Police and the Sharjah Education Council have jointly launched a programme to improve the morals and behaviour of pupils attending public schools.
"The programme will address all the negative behaviour by students, such as smoking, skipping school, bullying and violence," said Major General Humaid Mohammad Al Hudaidi, Chief of Sharjah Police.
Speaking at a press conference, he said the programme aims to ensure that such troubled pupils grow up into respectable citizens, adding that "not all the children are ill-mannered but there is a small percentage that is. With the programme, we want to reduce that percentage to zero".
Some schools in Sharjah have reported incidents of violence to police, which ranged from fights between pupils to beating up teachers.
Launched under the title "Security Culture", the programme will come into effect at the beginning of the second-term of the current academic year, which focuses on instilling morals in pupils.
"The programme will be carried out among 21 government schools, and we plan to expand the programme to more government schools and private schools at the beginning of the new academic year," Aisha Saif, Secretary General of Sharjah Educational Council, said.
Role reversal
The programme will allow police officers to visit participating schools at least once a week, where police officers will then be required to take on the role of teachers and educate pupils on their role in society, and how they can improve themselves as individuals.
The pupils will be divided into three different groups, consisting of primary school pupils, secondary school pupils and pupils in their final two years at school.
"The programme will consist of a number of activities and lectures that cater to each group, which ranges from drawing cartoons to attending seminars, and participating in exhibitions and plays," Aisha said.
