By Francine Black, Staff ReporterCORPORATE AREA school officials have expressed concerned at recent attacks on students who are being targeted for their cellular phones and name brand school bags.
"They target students who are unaccompanied or walking in twos," said Stuart Reeves, principal of Jamaica College.
The school said its students have been experiencing problems for quite some time, but that there have not been any attacks recently.
Inspector Marcia Reid of the Police Community Relations Unit confirmed that students were being fleeced of bags - particularly "brand name" bags such as Jansport - and cellular phones on a regular basis.
She said the attacks were concentrated in Montego Bay, St. James and the Corporate Area of Kingston and St. Andrew.
The rising usage of cellular phones in schools has been generating discussion on whether students should be allowed to carry the instruments, and how usage should be regulated.
The Ministry of Education said last week that it had issued no guidelines, but leaves it up to individual schools to regulate. Generally, schools allow students to take the instrument to school but insist that usage is limited to after-school hours; some advise their charges not to bring them at all.
Institutions like Meadowbrook High confiscate the phones temporarily and/or apply fines if the rules are breached.
In the meantime, the Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA) has voiced concern about the number of reports of students being attacked which amounted to eight in 2002-2003.
"The incidents of robberies appear to be constant. Students are being robbed to and from school," said Patrick Smith, JTA senior secretary.
However officials at the schools The Gleaner checked with are reporting a higher number of incidents. While the officials could not provide any supporting figures, officials at Jamaica College and Kingston College both confirmed that students from their institutions were robbed regularly. Both institutions have a zero tolerance policy on cell phones.
Both institutions have forged greater ties with the police in their areas in an effort to ensure their students' safety.
Inspector Reid pointed out that the police were very involved and have taken steps to help decrease the number of robberies. As part of the Crime Prevention programme, officers visit schools upon request to offer advice to students about avoiding attacks.
The police also institute patrols in the vicinity of schools where required, until students have safely left the campus. Counselling sessions are also made available to victims who find it difficult to cope after an attack.
According to Mr. Smith, part of the problem contributing to the frequency of these attacks is the inability of schools to provide proper security.
"In the production sector security is expensive but that cost can be recouped from prices and so on, but schools ain't got the resources," he stated.
