Press Release from the Office of the Prime Minister - 2024/05/15
“Given that there is this underlying change in the behaviour of our youth, I have directed the Ministry of National Security and the Ministry of Education to do a reassessment of the security risk of schools so that way we can get a better understanding of which schools are at risk and how to direct resources to those schools”- Prime Minister Holness.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness has taken decisive action in response to the number of reported incidents of school violence across Jamaica. Prime Minister Holness says the situation requires urgent strategic action to bring the matter under control.
Prime Minister Holness this morning (May 15) directed the Ministries of National Security and Education Youth to conduct a thorough reassessment of the security risks within schools.
“Given that there is this underlying change in the behaviour of our youth, I have directed the Ministry of National Security and the Ministry of Education to do a reassessment of the security risk of schools so that way we can get a better understanding of which schools are at risk and how to direct resources to those schools,” said Prime Minister Holness.
Prime Minister Holness also announced that more case managers have been assigned to schools.
“We have already started to increase the number of case managers that would be available for community interventions and school interventions through the Ministry of National Security. We're going to increase the number of school resource officers and the School Resource Officer Programme has been very effective, but from time to time, depending on the intensity of implementation, sometimes schools get resource officers and sometimes they don't. What we're going to seek to do now, after the conduct of this new assessment of the school, is to increase the numbers and then redirect some of these officers to those schools with the highest risk,” said Prime Minister Holness.
The Prime Minister was speaking during a meeting at the Office of the Prime Minister, OPM, with the Custos of Manchester Lt. Col the Hon. Garfield Green who is championing the values and attitudes initiative in schools.
Prime Minister Holness cited a fundamental shift in the behaviour of Jamaican youth which has resulted in the increased incidents of violence in schools.
The Prime Minister also noted that urgent measures have been implemented to review entry and search policies in all schools, with a focus on detecting and confiscating weapons, particularly knives. The government will also bolster social intervention programmes, engaging parents in conflict resolution strategies and address underlying issues such as bullying and gang culture.
In the meantime, the Prime Minister highlighted the critical role of community engagement and commended initiatives such as the Belief Values and Attitudes Initiative spearheaded by Custos Green. This initiative, leveraging the involvement of Justices of the Peace, seeks to foster peaceful conflict resolution among youth.
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5 comments:
This is Barry Williams. The basic problem is that both students and adults in Jamaica have walked away from God. Students no longer go to Sunday School or Sabbath School anymore. They do not know any of the Bible stories like David and Goliath, The Crucifixion of Christ, The Story of the 3 Hebrew (Black) teenagers, Shadrach, Meshac, and Abednego, Daniel(a Black man) in the den of lions. The students no longer memorize Bible verses (Golden Texts). I know this because I have to interact regularly with young people. However they know all the Vybz Kartel songs word for word. An example of this is the terrible "song" "Kartel Come Breed Mi". In this "song" a girl expresses in explicit details how she wants Vybz Kartel to have sex with her (notice I didn't say make love to her as the "lyrics" were animalistic.). I am sure that none of these violent children have been to church or Sunday/Sabbath School recently. This is what the Prime Minister needs to be calling for. Not a return to Values and Attitudes, but a return to Spiritual Attitudes. The Church stands ready to help. I am willing to lead that charge.
What about PREVEVENTIION. Work needs to be done in the so called low risk schools to prevent them becoming high risk. The officers should not be pulled from those schools.
Where you read that they are pulling officers? I read that they are increasing personnel and read about increased social intervention and search on entry procedures as well as conflict resolution and urgent strategic action.
I agree and we at Unitas of Jamaica has written a comprehensive plan to address anger issues with the church as the pivot to implement. Call us we are ready. 647 607 8230 Oniel
Using a band aid to fix an ulcer.....the moe idea of trending should be scrapped... the philosophy of educating jamaicans must be established from the womb...fix the gender deficit in primary and early childhood levels...push empowerment to families and households....scrap path....rotate outstanding principals to weak schools in their district..educate children fi life...dem naah pass di exams dem any way....where there is no leadership...the people perish....
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