MINISTRY: ARMED GUARDS NO, PRECEPTED OFFICERS YES

WHILE THE Ministry of Education yesterday sought to deny Newsday’s story by saying no armed security officers would be placed in the nation’s schools, its own release spoke of precepted officers, saying: “Criminal activity that occurs in the school will be handled by School Safety Officers, with the same professional discretion as any other law enforcement function of a police officer, hence the requirement for officers to be precepted.” However, it added that the ministry remained “consistent that no armed security officers will be deployed in any school.” It advised that the officers would be introduced in all government secondary schools in Trinidad on a phased basis. The first batch of 40 officers will be in 28 schools from next month.

A second batch will begin training in January. The Ministry said the officers would provide counselling and advice on law enforcement, health and safety issues affecting schools, and would work closely with district and school staff to solve problems. They are  also expected to make the necessary referrals to support and resource agencies when appropriate. A source said the 40 officers are expected to be fingerprinted today at the Police Training College. A senior police officer yesterday explained to Newsday that “precepted officers are able to use firearms, not necessarily have (them) at all times, as well as the power to arrest.”

The officers underwent a two-week training and orientation exercise at the Old Piarco Airport terminal building. The ministry’s advertisement for 182 positions of School Safety Officers in government secondary schools was placed in Newsday on August 8, this year. It said based on several initiatives of the ministry in pursuit of “its mission to renew and modernise the education system, the ministry is seeking a team of committed individuals to fill positions, on contract, in the School Discipline Initiative Unit, for a period of two years in each instance.” A special condition in the advertisement required that “officers be precepted.”