Joseph Cunningham, Gleaner Writer
MEMBERS OF the notorious 'One Order' and 'Clansman' gangs have been physically abusing students in the Spanish Town area who attend schools in nearby communities, according to education officials.
One teacher at a St. Catherine-based school, who requested anonymity, told The Gleaner that students have been reporting that attending schools in territories associated with either gang has become very risky.
"One student came to me with tears in his eyes after being slapped in the face several times while on his way to school," the teacher said. "The student said men from the 'Clansman' gang were offended because the school is 'Clansman' territory and he lived in a community labelled as 'One Order' territory."
'Clansman' is affiliated with the governing People's National Party and 'One Order' with the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party.
COSTLY ROUTES
Three students, who requested that the name of their school remain anonymous, told The Gleaner that the situation has caused them to take alternative routes to get to their schools.
They say the routes cost twice the amount of bus fares and is dangerous because they are seen as strangers passing through these communities.
Lt. Col. Oral Khan, chairman of the recently-formed Safe Schools Task Force, confirmed that students attending schools within the troubled communities of Dela Vega City, March Pen Road, Tawes Pen and Corletta Road, are indeed victims of gang members.
The Ministry of National Security, in conjunction with the Ministry of Education and Youth, has formed the Safe Schools Programme, an initiative to "create safer learning environments" for students.
Col. Khan's Task Force is part of the Safe Schools Programme that includes school resource officers (SROs) from the Jamaica Consta-bulary Force.
The work carried out by SROs includes identifying hot spots and helping schools make their compounds more secure.
Duties and Responsibilities of the School Resource Officers will be:
To give full support and assistance to school administration.
Keep the police department informed of all activities and developments that threaten the security of students, teachers and the school communities.
Deliver lectures in various disciplines aimed at building capacity in the schools to deal with safety, violence and antisocial behaviour.
To maintain proper records of all security incidents brought to its attention.
Give evidence in criminal court and the school disciplinary board when necessary
