The Editor, Sir:

On February 22, Education Minister Andrew Holness made public statements calling on the police to take prompt action against persons who invade school premises to assault teachers and students.

Given the level of violence and constant threat that exists in our nation's schools, how can it not occur to the school principals and the minister of education to secure the educational institutions from individuals who choose to attack students and staff on the school compound?

Minister Holness, what is needed is a security policy for schools and a strategy for implementing it, and it can be put together with the school principals, the police, military and private security consultants, whatever is required to do it. Take responsibility now for securing the schools and you will have reduced the nation's crime statistics in that area of our society. It is urgent and needs to get done now in the areas prone to violence.

To begin with, there should not be any way that an individual can enter a school compound, either across the fence or through the front gate, and not be recorded on security camera. Security cameras act as a deterrent, and police will rely on it in the event that they need to find a perpetrator and charge him with a crime.

As a first step, for one hour at the start of each school day, and again at the end of each school day, police officers must converge at the vicinity of each school to ensure that the school day commences and ends without incidents resulting in harm to students and teachers. This will also provide policing while metal detectors are applied to screen students for weapons when entering the school compound at the start of the school day.

Police needed

In addition to that, police placed inside the school compound must patrol the school to provide security while school is in session, with speedy back-up from routine police patrol on the street when needed.

To have full control over the security protocol, students must not be allowed to exit the school compound until the end of the school day. All food and drink must be available within the school.

School rest rooms, classrooms and hallways must be monitored with security cameras.

Violence in schools must not be tolerated in any measure. The safety of our nation's children and teachers while on the school premises must be a part of the education minister's responsibility.

I am, etc.,

E. REID

ewarta.reid@verizon.net

Philadelphia, PA

Via Go-Jamaica