Hazel announces ‘Operation Lock Down’

Hazel Manning, Minister of Education has announced that the Ministry of Education is working on engaging with school principals to put in place a “lock down” programme for situations of high risk in the nation’s schools.

Mrs Manning was speaking at the launch of the first School Intervention Strategies(SIS) for Primary Schools with the theme “Together We Light the Way” at Guaico Government Secondary School Turure Road, Guaico, yesterday. She said the “lock down”programme would address school safety and effective response in cases of emergency. She said, as a result  parents should be encouraged to become involved in school safety programmes at their children’s schools and to discuss personal safety with their children, particularly after school. “Parents , teachers and students need to recognise that we are in a dynamic situation,” the minister said “and no security guards, high fences, security cameras, electronic screening devices and the rush to complain to the news media when there is a problem will have any fruitful effect or bring and end to the problem.”

According to the Minister, her ministry is committed to healthy schools where students feel safe and comfortable and in an environment where they can enjoy fair treatment. She said, “We will continue to work to provide the resources for our schools.” She promised to ensure that her ministry spends the money wisely and it is spent on what works best. To this effect the Minister sent an open invitation to parents, teachers, administrators, students, and counsellors to come on board and help structure the school environment, so that students, teachers and parents can have a healthy on-going rapport. “It is not enough for parents to leave their children at school. We want parents to provide order, structure and consistent discipline. “Children absorb a lot of information and unfortunately, much of it is inaccurate or from questionable sources,” she said.

The Minister advised the parents “to let your children get all the information but the correct information from you as parents or guardians. “Give it to them in a non-threatening and non- embarrassing manner. Provide consistent discipline in the home,” she said. She also appealed to teachers to teach the appropriate strategies for dealing with feelings of anger and inappropriate behaviour.