TTUTA: No to armed guards

THE Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA) yesterday strongly condemned the deployment of armed security guards at the nation’s secondary schools, saying if such a measure is instituted, then it would mean a total admission of failure, and the students would have won the battle. TTUTA is expected to raise the matter with Minister of Education, Hazel Manning, when they meet next week. President of the Association, Clyde Permell, told Newsday, “We are opposed to the concept of armed guards in schools. “Guns in schools are a total admission of failure, since it means the battle has been lost to the students.”

Permell noted that first it was razor wire on high walls, and now guns in schools. “We cannot be controlling schools by a display of power and force. “Yes, we are in a struggle in terms of indiscipline, but the use of guns will not solve the problem, instead it will send the wrong message and the problems will be exacerbated.” Permell said if the ministry felt it was “absolutely necessary to have armed guards at any time, then the guns must not be on display and a procedure must be followed.” He suggested that the procedure include the guard “presenting himself to the principal every day so as to ensure the gun is not displayed publicly.”

Permell said the union shuddered to think what would happen if the guns get into the hands of a possible intruder on the school compound, or a student. He added that so far no incidents at any school required the use of guns. Permell said he would raise the matter at next week’s meeting with the minister. He also expressed concern that the officers who have already been trained, would only now be fingerprinted. As a former primary school principal, Permell said he knows first hand of “the problems with guards.” He said there was a definite problem with the selection and training of guards. He said in “most instances the training is not adequate and the selection process is even worse.”