Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

If stakeholders in education have their way this year, violence in schools will receive priority national attention.

Ruel Reid, special adviser to Minister of Education Andrew Holness, said the ministry is moving to do just that.

At the same time, Sylvester Anderson, president of the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica, said, "We definitely want to see violence on a whole reduced in the society, but we definitely don't want it in the schools this year."

Ena Barclay, president of the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA), said the perennial problem of violence in schools should be tackled in the New Year.

"We recognise the challenges our schools faced with violence last year and that is an area where special attention should be placed this year," said Mrs. Barclay.

Plans to address violence

Mr. Reid outlined plans to address violence in schools in 2008.

"As we grapple with crime and violence in our society and schools, the Ministry of Education will be proactive in ensuring that our school administrators are prepared and supported in maintaining good discipline and security in our schools," said Mr. Reid, who is also the principal of Jamaica College.

Mr. Reid said the Education Ministry will this year sensitise school administrations about security.

"Instead of being reactive, we are going to be proactive," he told The Gleaner.

Mr. Reid noted that Jamaicans live in a violent society and, in everything school administrators do this year, they will have to think about security.

In the meantime, Mr. Anderson said he wants parents to be more involved in their children's education, more resources provided for schools and a reduction in the pupil-teacher ratio.

Mrs. Barclay, the head of the 22,000-member strong JTA, also wants an improvement in the quality of life for the island's teachers.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com