Jamaica College, a school that had serious problems with delinquency, has transformed into a model institution, says principal Ruel Reid.

"The boys have turned around. My school does not have a disciplinary problem," Reid told The Gleaner.

Reid said the school has been so transformed, its Success boot camp - geared towards behaviour modification among trouble students - has outlived its usefulness.

The Success Centre, a special unit set up at the school for problem students, was introduced in December 2006. Participants were removed from the larger student body for six weeks, in the first instance, and taken through a programme of reorientation, designed specifically to meet their psychological and emotional needs.

Reinstated

Those who completed the six weeks successfully were reinstated in the mainstream, hopefully, with a new, better attitude.

"We now just have regular monitoring that takes place," Reid revealed.

Reid, who is also an adviser to Andrew Holness, minister of education, attributes the improvement in the boys' behaviour to an efficient guidance and counselling programme.

The principal attributed the success of the programme to the fact that they were able to determine what caused the problem of indiscipline that they experienced among some of the students.

"We went to the level of the parents and the root cause of them smoking ganja," he said.

Reid continued: "We also started to hold teachers accountable and ensured that students go to class, do their work and behave themselves."

The principal said the school has seen significant improvements in the academic performance of students.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com