The Interior Ministry Undersecretary for Nationality, Passports and Residence Affairs and Chairman of the Anti-Violence and Addiction Committee, Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa, chaired the committee’s meeting.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Chairman welcomed the members, congratulating them on the start of the new academic year and wishing students a year filled with achievements. He commended the efforts of those in charge of the programme and their cooperation with the relevant entities to provide a safe educational environment that ensures the success of the learning process and the achievement of its goals.
The Director of Maan (together) against violence and addiction, reviewed the outcomes of the programme during the second semester of the 2024–2025 academic year, including an assessment of field interaction and results, and discussed the plan for the first semester of 2025–2026. The plan includes awareness curricula, interactive lectures and workshops, awareness exhibitions, and modern educational techniques to broaden benefits, instil positive values of belonging, and educate students about the risks of negative behaviours.
In the framework of curriculum development, the committee discussed newly introduced curricula within the programme, including civil defence and traffic safety content, to promote a culture of prevention and respect for the law. It also reviewed the Awareness and Study Preparation Programme (WAED) for children at the Child Protection Centre, aimed at raising awareness, protecting young people, and building their personalities.
The Chairman stressed the importance of continued cooperation with universities in preparing studies and scientific research, as a key partner in supporting development and modernisation. He highlighted the role of joint research projects addressing security issues from a scientific perspective, to provide accurate data and measurable indicators that enhance preventive planning and help develop sustainable solutions to reduce negative phenomena.
He further emphasised the need to promote proper methods to prevent risks associated with online gaming platforms, underlining the importance of raising awareness among students and parents, and encouraging the use of parental control tools available on devices and platforms. He called for the development of awareness programmes on safe usage, in addition to holding workshops for educators to deal with behaviours resulting from excessive gaming, ensuring the protection of children and the development of their social skills in a safe educational environment.
The committee also discussed the Maan Security Awareness Exhibition, designed to enable visitors to understand risks in a practical and experiential way. It stressed the exhibition’s effective role in raising awareness of negative behaviours, educating youth on the importance of compliance with laws and regulations, and noted the expansion of its scope to further strengthen preventive culture and build a conscious and responsible society.
At the end of the meeting, the committee discussed future plans to further develop the Programme, improve its performance, align its strategic objectives with evolving community needs, and strengthen partnerships with official and community entities to ensure sustainable results that contribute to building a safe and healthy society.
