As you return to your campus for another school year, you may notice some changes. Perhaps some walls have received a fresh coat of paint. Or maybe you can see the remnants of construction work.
While you were away enjoying your summer vacation, your school was likely still bustling, but not with students. Instead, the school’s staff and security personnel were busy enhancing the facilities and maintaining cleanliness.
Holiday watch squad
During the summer, few students visit French International School (FIS) campuses. But Hikmat Shahi, the senior security and safety officer, works five days a week, for nine hours each day.
Throughout the school year, Shahi and the 13 other guards across FIS’s four campuses check in guests, assist students with their badges and supervise playtime to ensure the safety of all.
However, during the summer, Shahi’s focus changes.
“We always have some kind of renovations, maintenance or other work during those breaks,” said Shahi, who has been at FIS for seven years.
He noted that summer is actually “busier” for him.
“During summer, we have a lot of work related to renovations and cleaning ... we also have summer camps,” explained Shahi, who moved to Hong Kong from Nepal in 2012.
His schedule involves coordinating with contractors who come to work on the campuses.
The rest of the security staff continue to work 12-hour shifts and maintain a presence on every campus. Shahi mentioned that their workload is lighter due to the reduced number of visitors and students.
Shahi is motivated in his role by the desire to create a suitable environment for his nine-year-old son.
“I tell myself, ‘Wow, we’re creating a great environment.’ These kids will be the future. It gives me a sense of purpose and happiness,” he said.
Maintenance masters unite
Over at Chinese International School (CIS), Ronnie Chan, the facilities manager, oversees around 80 people. These include all kinds of workers – from cleaners to security guards.
During the school year, Chan explained that security guards oversaw events. But with no students during the summer, they concentrate on repairs.
“During the summer time, we have so many repairs [and] maintenance. So there’s so many workers coming to carry out different [jobs] on the campus,” said Chan, who works six days a week.
“So actually, work will be – instead of concentrating on the school event – they will focus on monitoring the workers.”
In the 12 years Chan has worked at CIS, he has aided the school during big changes. This includes the construction of a new 10-storey building that opened in 2016 to extra cleaning measures during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said that his team’s work did not go unnoticed.
“The school management and also the teachers and I encourage the students to talk to the working team at the school ... They also encourage people if they want to show some appreciation,” he said.
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