Mark Beckford, Staff Reporter

The start of the new school term on Monday heralded the fourth year of the Safe Schools Programme (SSP) and, from several indications, the programme is doing well.

The programme, which was implemented in 2004 - by the Ministry of Education and Youth in several troubled schools - to deal with the rising incidents of violence, has now spread to over 110 institutions with over 90 School Resource Officers (SRO) involved in the programme.

Angella Chaplain is one testament to the success of the initiative. Ms. Chaplain, who is the principal of Vauxhall High School says SSP has brought a sense of stability to the school.

Vauxhall High School has seen some rocky days; March 2005 was one such instance when teachers protested the rape of a school girl. The school is sometimes affected by violence in East Kingston which contains the volatile community of Mountain View.

Trained counsellor

"It (SSP) is very supportive. If there is an incident, the SRO talks to the children, tells them their rights, and if it is extreme, they might take them to the station where they will contact their parents."

Ms. Chaplain also said the SRO, who is a trained counsellor, patrols the compound and if the students or staff need an escort, assistance is rendered by mobile cops.

Past coordinator of the police component of the SSP, Superintendent Norman Heywood has also applauded the programme and said he thinks, if institutionalised, its aim of reducing violent incidents in schools can be achieved.

"Our ultimate goal is for SRO's to visit for particular sessions, instead of having them posted," Supt. Heywood said. "Also we want the SSP, the concept of safety, to be entrenched in all the schools; we need all the schools to be talking about safety."

Stemming flow of weapons

Supt. Heywood said the pro-gramme had, during his time, helped to stem the flow of weapons, and had developed a truancy watch in collaboration with major shopping centres which monitored students who would skip school and stay at these establishments.

Braeton Primary and Junior High is one such school which is relieved to be enlisted on the SSP. The school has been plagued with violence which came to a head, on June 6 when Johnor Dinhal was stabbed to death by a schoolmate.

Fitz Jackson, principal of the school, is hoping to work closely with the SRO to curb indiscipline.

"We are very grateful for the opportunity to be included onthe SSP, as a number of students, whatever opportunity they can find to create mischief, they do. I think this will help us to get on top of the indiscipline."

mark.beckford@gleanerjm.com