A Critical Alert from KHDA: How Schools Must Respond to Dangerous Student Behaviours
Essential guidance for school leaders, safeguarding teams, and educational professionals across Dubai
A Vital Advisory for Every School Community
This week, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) issued an essential advisory to all parents and schools across Dubai. It highlights an urgent and deeply concerning trend: instances of dangerous physical behaviours amongst students.
At ZPD, we believe this advisory is a crucial call to action for every educational leader and safeguarding lead. It underscores the pressing need for expert training and robust protocols within our schools.
The Core Message from the KHDA Advisory
The KHDA has reported direct incidents from schools involving:
Choking and breath-holding activities amongst students
Applying pressure to the neck or head of other students
Participation in high-risk social media challenges, such as the “Skull Breaker Challenge,” where a student is tripped or caused to fall intentionally
“Students may dismiss these acts as ‘joking or play,’ but they in fact pose serious and immediate risks to students’ health and safety.”
— KHDA Advisory Notice
The potential for catastrophic injury or life-threatening consequences in these moments is real. The advisory stresses that whilst schools are addressing students directly, a unified partnership with parents is essential to reinforce safety messages.
From Alert to Action: The School’s Professional Responsibility
The KHDA’s communication is clear: awareness is the first step, but structured, professional action is the required next step for schools. The notice states that students found participating in or encouraging such behaviours will face disciplinary action, with serious cases potentially referred to external authorities.
This places a significant responsibility on school staff. They must be equipped not only to react to incidents but to prevent, de-escalate, and manage these situations safely and within the best-practice frameworks expected by regulators like the KHDA.
How ZPD Empowers Your School to Lead on Safety
ZPD’s specialised training programmes provide the exact framework and skills required to respond to this advisory effectively. We move your team from concern to confidence.
Enhanced Safeguarding Training
Our courses ensure every member of staff can recognise the early signs of risky peer dynamics and understand the psychology behind dangerous trends. We build a culture of proactive vigilance, ensuring your safeguarding policies are living, actionable documents that empower staff to act.
Positive Handling & Behaviour Management Training
This is the critical, UK best-practice methodology for addressing the physical risks outlined by the KHDA. Our training focuses on:
De-escalation as Primary Strategy
Equipping staff with advanced verbal and non-verbal techniques to defuse potential incidents before they become physical.
Safe, Last-Resort Intervention
Teaching strictly governed, minimal-force principles for situations where there is an immediate danger of physical harm.
Legal & Ethical Compliance
Ensuring all actions are justified, recorded, and aligned with the highest standards of student welfare and regulatory expectation.
Post-Incident Support
Creating pathways for reflection, support, and restorative practice to care for all involved.
Your Next Step: A Partnership for Safer Schools
The KHDA advisory is not just an email to forward. It is a mandate to review and strengthen your school’s behavioural and safeguarding practices.
Investing in targeted, authoritative training is the most decisive step you can take. It protects your students, supports your staff, and demonstrates your school’s unwavering commitment to welfare.
Let ZPD be your partner in building this essential capability. We commend the KHDA for its clear leadership on this issue and are ready to help you translate their advisory into actionable, everyday safety in your school.
Contact ZPD today to schedule a consultation
Together, we can ensure your school is prepared, proactive, and truly safe.
Disclaimer: This blog post references the public advisory issued by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). The official notice and linked poster are the copyright of KHDA and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).