Increasing security at universities
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Universities and colleges will probably have to change their safety rules. In the wake of the tragic shooting in the centre of Prague, the question of university security is increasingly being raised. The Ministry of Education wants to help universities financially - especially for technical security or to improve the mental health of students. The Interior Ministry, for its part, is planning a security audit. Experts point out that each university is unique and we need to bring a system into the measures.
Banning large luggage, controlled entrances and the introduction of an early warning system. These are just a selection of the measures that Robert Zsembera, Deputy Education Minister, is talking about. The ministry plans to open a financial call for universities:
“They are in charge of their buildings and premises so they can introduce individual safety measures either in the operating rules or through training of the school employees and students. The events in Prague have urged the Ministry to intensify its efforts to create general manuals for this type of schools.”
Controlled access is already in operation in several buildings of Comenius University in Bratislava. Barbora Tancerová adds:
“The plan should include technical and communication measures as well as crisis behaviour training. An important part will, however, be prevention. Already in the past year, we increased the capacity of our psychological counselling centre and we plan to continue in its support.”
Vladimír Hriadlovský, president of the Slovak Rectors' Conference and rector of Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, says that investing in better security and psychological support can make sense:
“We have to keep in mind that universities have always tried to be open spaces. It probably is not the aim to let only members of academic community to enter their premises because in that case it is denial of the basic purpose of the universities as open institutions.”
We need to bring a system to the solution of security in schools, money for expensive technology is not the only measure. Libor Sladký, President of the Czech Safe School Association:
“If we are speaking about universities that have more buildings and campuses, we will be talking in millions. I simply don’t think this is the direction for which there will be money found. Schools should definitely start from a quality security analysis.”
The Ministry of the Interior informs that a working group has been working for almost a year - preparing a security audit in schools. The ministries intend to present more information in the coming days.
(RTVS)
