Damion Mitchell, Staff Reporter
Ahead of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) 41st annual conference in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, from August 22-24, The Gleaner continues a series examining issues to be addressed at the forum. Today we look at school safety and security.
IN 2003, the JTA published statistics indicating serious concerns with the issue of safety and security in schools.
The statistics indicated that between September 2002 and May 2003, there were 14 reports of students attacking teachers and 28 of students attacking schoolmates.
The reports noted that in three cases, community members attacked teachers, and in another eight, students were attacked.
According to the JTA, between 2002 and 2003, 12 teachers and 13 students were reported to have been violently injured at schools while three students were killed.
STILL SIGNIFICANT PROBLEMS
Two years later, senior secretary for school services at the JTA, Patrick Smith, says there are still significant problems with school safety and security, so much so that some schools are considering introducing metal detectors at the start of the new school year.
"In some areas it really has become necessary," said Mr. Smith.
In September last year, the Education Ministry introduced a Safe Schools programme in an initial 60 schools to help address the issue of violence.
But according to Mr. Smith, while the programme has been successful, addressing the issue of school safety and security must extend beyond learning institutions to the wider society.
