40 armed officers for high-risk schools

FORTY specially-trained school security officers will take up duties at schools identified as “high- risk” from January 2 next year. This is part of the initiative of the Ministry of Education to reduce the spate of violence in schools throughout the country. The precepted officers who will carry guns as part of their duties, will be fingerprinted by the police tomorrow, and  told to which schools they will be assigned. They have been given specific duties on school safety and security, and would be paid by the Ministry of Education.

Some of the schools identified as “high risk,” are the Mucurapo Junior Secondary, Belmont Junior Secondary, Success/ Laventille Composite, Five Rivers Junior Secondary, and Chaguanas Junior Secondary. Newsday learnt that the new security officers comprise persons above the rank of sergeant who may have retired from the army, police,  fire and prison services. The officers have already been trained in detecting illegal drugs, arms, ammunition, counselling, and community relations.

Yesterday, Mervyn Critchlow, Communications Specialist at the Ministry of Education told Newsday that the Ministry placed an advertisement in the newspapers for the school security officers. Forty persons with precepted backgrounds were chosen and subjected to intensive training at the Old Piarco Terminal. Critchlow pointed out that the principals of the “high risk” schools were summoned to a meeting last week where they were informed of the new arrangements with the school security officers. The Ministry of Education has already started the fencing of schools with barbed razor wires.

This is all part of the initiative to prevent students from scaling fences to leave school while classes are taking place. The decision to train the wardens came about after the Ministry of Education accepted a proposal by Dr Ramesh Deosaran to train school wardens and place them in “trouble schools,” to deal with the spate of school violence. Most of the 40  recommendations containing in a bulky document and submitted to Minister of Education Hazel Manning, are currently being put in place.

Yesterday, Professor Deosaran said, “this is a direct and very welcome intervention, because it will help change the quality of life for both teachers and students, and also help prevent trespassers and other violent intruders into the school premises. The persons will also function as watchmen for students who miss classes, loiter or fight on the streets and also have direct contact with parents.’” Last week at the Diego Martin Junior Secondary School, a 14-year-old student was stabbed several times with a pair of scissors. Police have received several reports about violence at other high risk schools.