THE LEVEL of violence in schools has increased over the last five years say the majority of persons interviewed in the latest Gleaner-commissioned Don Anderson poll.
More than 57 per cent of those questioned said there was more violence in schools today compared to the turn of the millennium, while 56 per cent said that violence had increased over last year.
The poll, conducted between February 28 and March 20, involved interviews among a national representative sample of 1,000 persons across the island's 14 parishes. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 per cent.
The findings come on the heels of Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke's assurance that imminent changes to the education regulations will seek to reduce the incidence of violence in schools this year. While delivering the Throne Speech at the ceremonial opening of Parliament on March 31, the Governor-General also pointed to curriculum changes, new policies related to guidance counselling, and disciplinary measures to be adopted in schools as other tools in the Government's drive against violence.
PARENTING
But according to the poll, conducted by
Don Anderson and his team from Market Research Services Ltd., it is parenting that has contributed most to the increase in violence. Those convinced about the increase in violence were located in the rural parishes of St. Catherine, St. Mary and St. Thomas. They were most critical of parents with 32 per cent blaming inadequate parental guidance for the hostile behaviour of students. An almost equal 30 per cent laid the responsibility on indiscipline amongst children, while other factors included community disputes, domestic disputes, and gang warfare in schools. Four per cent of those interviewed found poverty responsible.
MURDER CHARGES
Violence committed by and against students has been on the rise in Jamaica with several cases recorded since January. There have been at least three incidents involving student-on-student assault, and two cases of students allegedly attacking adults. Some incidents have led to murder charges.
On March 3, during the polling period, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture launched an inter-agency task force to tackle violence in schools. At that time, Education Minister Maxine Henry-Wilson linked the problem to the culture of violence pervading the wider society, and acknowledged that there was a difficult task at hand.
In August of last year, the Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA) highlighted a disturbing pattern of violence in Jamaican schools, citing incidents of rape, attacks on teachers and murder. According to a report put together by the teachers union, three students were killed at school during the 2002/2003 academic year and there were at least 25 cases of injuries resulting from several attacks on students.
