Arthur Hall

Senior Staff Reporter

Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Dorothy Lightbourne does a meet-and-greet with students of Kingsway Preparatory School during the Kingston and St Andrew Family Court Parenting Seminar on 'Violence Against Children' held at the Pollyanna Restaurant in St Andrew yesterday.- Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

Students with acute behavioural problems could soon be taken out of the regular education system and placed in special institutions as part of efforts to stem violence in schools.

This will give the students a 'time-out' and allow the schools to function without the disruptive elements.

However, the Government might have to enact new legislation to make this possible.

This was one of the decisions made yesterday during a meeting called by Prime Minister Bruce Golding to discuss the high incidence of crime and violence in schools.

summoned

Principals of all schools in the Corporate Area, the police commissioner and the ministers of education and national security were among those summoned to Jamaica House yesterday by Golding in the wake of two stabbing incidents in schools this week.

"The principals were given a chance to air their concerns, the issues were discussed and everyone left satisfied that action was being taken," Education Minister Andrew Holness told The Gleaner.

Holness said the Government would be creating the post of dean of discipline in schools and would continue fencing schools to make them safer.

new legislation

At yesterday's meeting, Golding said violence in schools might call for new legislation and changes to the education ministry's code to empower school administrators to have more authority within their institutions.

Golding had previously announced that a new regime was being put in place to protect children on their way to and from schools.

According to Golding, Police Commissioner Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin is currently introducing district constables in as many schools as possible while strengthening the security arrangements of the safe-school zones.

going the extra mile

"We are not going to leave them (students) exposed and we will go the extra mile to ensure they are protected," Golding declared on Thursday. He was speaking at the unveiling of a monument in honour of child victims of violence.

He further repeated his intention to have the police clamp down on young men who congregate outside school premises.

"A clear signal must be sent that this is not a place to loiter," Golding said.

Golding in the wake of two stabbing incidents in schools this week.

"The principals were given a chance to air their concerns, the issues were discussed and everyone left satisfied that action was being taken," Education Minister Andrew Holness told The Gleaner.

Holness said the Government would be creating the post of dean of discipline in schools and would continue fencing schools to make them safer.

new legislation

At yesterday's meeting, Golding said violence in schools might call for new legislation and changes to the education ministry's code to empower school administrators to have more authority within their institutions.

Golding had previously announced that a new regime was being put in place to protect children on their way to and from schools.

According to Golding, Police Commissioner Rear Admiral Hardley Lewin is currently introducing district constables in as many schools as possible while strengthening the security arrangements of the safe-school zones.

going the extra mile

"We are not going to leave them (students) exposed and we will go the extra mile to ensure they are protected," Golding declared on Thursday. He was speaking at the unveiling of a monument in honour of child victims of violence.

He further repeated his intention to have the police clamp down on young men who congregate outside school premises.

"A clear signal must be sent that this is not a place to loiter," Golding said.

arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com