29 JULY- 2008

• Interim Committee for Safety and Health in Qatar Schools is the first entity in the country to standardize and oversee safety regulations in all schools
• Contractor will be assigned to install and maintain a fire system base in the international standard Code NFPA
• Safety training sessions for selected school staff administered by Qatar Foundation starting in October
• School emergency response teams composed of seven members to ensure proper implementation of procedures

Doha 29 July, 2008 - Recognizing the importance of standardized safety regulations, Qatar Foundation initiated a nationwide safety committee with the purpose of overseeing safety procedures for all schools in Qatar. Chaired by Qatar Foundation, the committee comprises several government bodies including: Ministry of Education, Civil Defense, Supreme Education Council, Public Works Authority (Ashghal) and the Supreme Council for Environment and Natural Reserves.

The main objective of the committee is to make sure all government, independent and private schools comply with the policies determined by the committee. Monitoring and evaluation of safety systems in schools will take place at several administrative levels ranging from individual school emergency response teams, which will meet on a weekly basis and culminating with a full-on annual inspection conducted by Civil Defense. Schools that fail to meet the guidelines set by the committee could potentially have their license revoked.

Training of school emergency response teams will be administrated by Qatar Foundation and will focus on fire drills, first aid and evacuation procedures. Commenting on the newly introduced safety standards, Fahad Jamal Al Jaber, Group Manger - HSSE at Qatar Foundation and Chairman of Interim Committee for Safety and Health in Qatar Schools said: ""Through the training sessions we intend to start in October, we hope to educate faculty, staff and students at schools on how to respond to hazardous situations in the most efficient way. The new safety committee will be in charge of ensuring a safe and healthy environment for all students in all schools in Qatar which contributes to quality education.""

In order to assist the schools with meeting the new standards, a contractor will be assigned with the task of installing the proper safety equipment as well as providing maintenance and monthly inspections. They will also be involved in laboratory gas control systems and methods of disposing of hazardous materials. The contracting tender is open for safety firms until 2 August.

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For further media information, please contact Omar Chaikhouni at Qatar Foundation 6864192.

About Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development
Founded in 1995 by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, and chaired by Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned, Qatar Foundation is a private, non-profit organization committed to the principle that a nation's greatest natural resource is its people.

The headquarters of Qatar Foundation are located within its flagship project, Education City, a fourteen million square-meter campus which hosts numerous progressive learning institutions and centers of research, including branch campuses of six of the world's leading universities, plus a cutting-edge research and development center. Qatar Foundation also works to enhance the quality of life in Qatar by investing in community health and development.
For more information please visit: http://www.qf.org.qa/