Mark Titus, Freelance Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

President of the Jamaica Teachers Association (JTA), Hopeton Henry, is calling for the ministries of National Security and Education and Youth to combine their efforts to make the Safe Schools Programme (SSP) more effective.

"The Safe Schools Programme is under-resourced, and the ministries of Education and National Security need to make it their priority to address this problem if we are serious about confronting the deterioration of social order in our society," Henry told The Gleaner.

A safe haven

"Wherever teaching takes place, it should be a safe haven for the teachers and students."

The SSP was introduced in September 2004, to enhance the process of discipline in educational institutions.

The school resource officer (SRO) is required to work in conjunction with principals, the Victim Support Unit and the guidance counsellors and act as the liaison between the school administration and his/her commanding officer.

Superintendent of Police in charge of Corporate Strategy, Norman Heywood, says while the initiative has experienced a few problems, the success rate is very high.

"There has been a significant decrease in incidents in our schools, weapons and drugs are not as prevalent as before," he stated.

Discipline helps

"The schools that have a weak administration are the ones we have the most problems with. The SRO that is assigned to a school with strict discipline will tell you that his job is a lot easier."

Supt. Heywood contended that the high demand for general security is putting pressure on the SSP.

"If you take St. James, for example, with the present escalation of crime and violence, the schools in that parish would see less of their SROs, as they would be needed for general security duties," he explained.

"Presently we concentrate on problem schools, while the schools that rarely experience any incident are visited on demand by the school's administration."

According to the officer, a number of school administrations are now applying to be a part of the programme.

"With World Cup cricket a few weeks away, there can be no guarantee that their request will be granted," he said.