Students make their way through the gate of Charlie Smith High School in Trench Town, Kingston, yesterday. Teachers at Charlie Smith and Trench Town High have refused to teach in a show of protest against the continued violence in the area. - NORMAN GRINDLEY/DEPUTY CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHERTEACHERS FROM the Charlie Smith and Trench Town high schools in Arnett Gardens, Kingston, boycotted the classroom yesterday to protest the shooting and rape of two students on Thursday.
Over 50 teachers who met in a marathon meeting with Member of Parliament for the area, Dr. Omar Davies, have unanimously decided to boycott classes on Monday and Tuesday of next week.
"I think we should come in on Monday, sign the register, then march through the community with our placards," said Grace Smith, principal of Trench Town High School.
This means that over 1,100 students from both institutions will be asked to stay away from the classroom for two more days.
The teachers have also proposed to meet the various representatives of the Ministry of Education on Tuesday to further discuss the problem. Then, based on their assessment of the situation, the schools may reopen on Wednesday. The educators have expressed fear for their safety in light of the renewed gang violence in the South St. Andrew constituency.
On Thursday, a 13-year-old Charlie Smith High student was shot by gunmen. The young girl has since been hospitalised, and is in stable condition. Another 13-year-old girl was raped at gun point on the grounds of the Trench Town High School.
The police detained more than 20 men yesterday morning in the area following an operation carried out by members of the security forces. An illegal semi-automatic pistol was also seized.
According to the police, five of the men are believed to be linked to Thursday's incidents.
