Edmond Campbell and Petrina Francis, Staff Reporters

RECENT killings and abductions of children have sent a wave of panic across many schools in Jamaica with students reportedly cowering in fear that thugs may abduct and harm them.

But the Ministry of Education and school associations are urging parents and the community to join forces to protect the nation's children.

They have also put in place security measures and have provided advice to students and parents.

Yesterday, The Gleaner received several unconfirmed reports of attempts to abduct children in schools across the country.

However, director of communications for the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Karl Angell, said the police had no report of any student being abducted.

Crime data released today show that 73 children have been killed since the start of the year, 21 more than the same period last year.

Murder rate rise

At the same time, the alarming murder toll is climbing, with 1,391 Jamaicans killed since the start of the year.

A shocking 143 women have been slain this year, compared with 114 for the similar period in 2007.

In a flyer issued to schools, the education ministry gave a number of tips to parents, schools and communities to ensure the protection of children.

Nadine Molloy, president of the Jamaica Association of Principals of Secondary Schools (JAPSS), said her association was planning to meet with Education Minister Andrew Holness in the next two weeks to discuss security concerns in relation to children.

A meeting of the association will also seek to find solutions to tackle the serious problem plaguing the country's children.

"We have precautionary measures that we take," Molloy told The Gleaner yesterday, adding that many new secondary schools have security guards in place. She said visitors to these schools are monitored carefully.

"We are being proactive in this (but) we can't protect the children when they are on their way to us or on their way from us. We just have to guide them and inform them of what they are to be careful of," she explained.

Miranda Sutherland, president of the National Parent-Teacher Association of Jamaica (NPTAJ), said her association was treating the abduction of children as a crisis.

She said the NPTAJ would be staging a meeting on November 11, at St Hugh's High School in Kingston dubbed 'Speak Out', to address the injustices meted out to children.

"We are not helpless, we have to be focused and become neighbours, watchers and whistle-blowers for the benefit of the country," she said.

"We have got to recognise ... this is a warning and we have to wake up and respond," she stressed.

The Gleaner understands that a prominent high school in Kingston has suspended extra-curricular activities and has encouraged students to go home at the end of the school day.

Ministry of Education advisory to parents and communities

Protect your children.

Encourage your children to walk in groups.

Teach your children not to accept gifts or sweets from strangers.

Teach your children the main roads and tell them to use these roads instead of shortcuts.

Give your children something that makes a loud piercing noise and tell them when to use it.

Teach your children to scream and run to a crowded area if they are being followed.

Teach your children basic self-defence techniques.

Be sure to know where your children are at all times.

Treat each child like your own.