- NORMAN GRINDLEY/DEPUTY CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
Corporal Tomilee Chambers of the Elletson Road Police Station gives encouraging words to students of the Elletson Primary School on Bryden Street in East Kingston yesterday. At least eight persons have been shot and killed in recent weeks in the area.
Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
WITH A little over a week before the start of GSAT examinations, students at Elleston Primary in east Kingston have been forced to stay away from school due to ongoing violence in the community.
According to Michael Brown, school principal, the more than 100 students registered to sit the exams were now at such a disadvantage that it would be very difficult to say how they will perform.
"Each year we have a 20 per cent pass rate to traditional high schools," Mr. Brown said. "Based on our situation, I believe the students have done well." The GSAT exams will be held between March 17-18.
Over 200 students, Mr. Brown noted, have failed to turn up for classes since gang hostilities erupted in the area six weeks ago.
COUNSELLING
He said 21 other students have been forced to seek counselling, while others have decided to seek temporary refuge elsewhere.
"These are students who have had many sleepless nights and are acting abnormally in classes," said Mr. Brown.
He added that not only will the violence affect on the students' ability to learn, but that the emotional stress was bound to have a negative impact on their young minds.
He pointed to an incident two weeks ago where a man was shot and killed outside the gates of the school. "Students who heard the shots ran and screamed," he said. "Some later went to the gate and looked at the body lying on the ground."
ATTENDANCE DWINDLES
Mr. Brown added: "After that incident, the attendance began to dwindle from 658 to 178. But since the intervention of the security forces the students have begun turning out."
Up to 6:00 p.m. yesterday, there were reports of more gunfire in the Bryden Street area. At least eight persons have been shot and killed since the flare-up began.
Woman Corporal Tomilee Chambers of the Kingston East Community Relations team along with persons from the government funded Victim Support Unit are providing the counselling services to traumatised teachers and students.
... students will get a chance to sit exams
Petrina Francis, Education Reporter
DR. GRACE KELLY, president of the National Guidance Counsellors Association, said yesterday that students scheduled to sit the GSAT exams will be given every opportunity to do so.
Her comments came following reports that students, many of whom are registered to sit the GSAT, have been forced to stay away from the Elleston Primary School in east Kingston due to gang violence.
Dr. Kelly said her organisation will do everything to ensure that the students sit the exams in a stress-free environment, suggesting that school officials and counsellors organise grief sessions for them.
She said that in attempting to identify abnormal behaviour, counsellors should visit classes and observe what is happening with the students. She said small group sessions where children are allowed to express themselves freely will also be a tremendous boost.
Dr. Kelly noted that teachers could incorporate the issue of violence in the teaching process so students can talk openly about what is happening in their communities. She said expressing themselves is very important because it can become a block to the learning process.
DIALOGUE
Dorrett Campbell, director of communications at the Education Ministry said her ministry will have dialogue with the school, and work out an appropriate strategy to help the students. She noted that the guidance and counselling unit of the ministry would also be intervening to ensure that students receive counselling.
Meanwhile, National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips said last night that the security forces will "work overtime", if necessary, to ensure that the students can return to school safely. "As we have stated quite clearly, we will not relent and allow criminals to dictate how we go about our daily lives," he said. "What is happening in East Kingston will and cannot be tolerated ... we will do everything to rid the streets of those who are bent on breaking the law and drive fear in the lives of law abiding citizens."
