The Tunisian Association of Parents and Students has urged the government to revise the school schedule to keep students within school premises during breaks. According to the association's president, Ridha Zahrouni, this measure aims to better protect students from risks associated with being outside school, including violence and substance abuse. The proposal comes in response to a recent tragic incident involving a 15-year-old girl.
The association believes that keeping students in school during breaks can help reduce their exposure to various forms of violence and risk behaviors, such as smoking and drug use. However, they emphasize that this can only be effective if the Ministry of Education mobilizes sufficient human and material resources. The association suggests starting with schools considered most vulnerable or exposed to these phenomena.
To achieve this goal, the association recommends dedicating periods when students are not in class to educational activities and school-related actions, rather than leaving them unsupervised. They also propose reducing "idle hours" in school schedules and improving coordination with parents who have the means to take care of their children during certain breaks or periods without classes.
The association further suggests that creating parent-student associations in each school can help strengthen coordination between families and schools. They believe that a better distribution of responsibilities between schools and parents is crucial to enhancing student protection and supervision.
According to the association, the recent incident involving the 15-year-old girl highlights the persistent difficulties in protecting minors. They stress that the government's response to this issue is crucial in preventing similar incidents in the future.
The association's proposal has garnered attention from various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education. Eleven ministries have been mobilized to supervise students during breaks, indicating a willingness to address the issue.
The implementation of the association's proposals will require collaboration between the government, schools, and parents. The association's efforts aim to ensure a safer environment for students and provide them with adequate support and supervision.
Key points
- The Tunisian Association of Parents and Students proposes maintaining students in schools during breaks to reduce exposure to violence and risk behaviors.
- The association recommends dedicating periods when students are not in class to educational activities and school-related actions.
- Creating parent-student associations in each school can help strengthen coordination between families and schools.
