No decision has been made as yet on whether all secondary schools will be making use of handheld metal detectors to aid in the fight against violence in our schools.
That’s according to Minister of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, Santia Bradshaw. She was speaking on Monday evening during a press conference at the Erdiston Teachers’ Training College. While telling the media that such devices will be employed when students return to the classroom at the Frederick Smith Secondary School later this week, following a stabbing incident which left a 16-year-old student dead, she said the boards of management along with the principals of secondary schools which have been encountering issues of violence, are reviewing the option to determine if all schools require it. She made the point while noting that the ministry will be stepping up its action in general to ensure that there is a reduction in the number of violent acts occurring at schools across the island.
“I expect that they would be able to come to us shortly… It is not a one fit for all, but there are some schools that we have had greater challenges than others, and as a precautionary measure I think that the time has now come where we may have to consider spot checks and random searches, as well as ensuring that at least the points of entry are properly secured to make sure that we limit; not that we can in anyway ever prevent these types of incidents from happening, because as we discussed with the police today [Monday] anything can become a weapon,” she noted.
Her comments came as she indicated that the law already allows for random checks to be performed and they are within their right to execute them. But, she lamented that there is nothing that can be done to completely eliminate the possibility of any violent acts taking place, but acknowledged that there are precautions that can be taken across the system to reduce the number of incidents.
“The fact is weapons are being found on our students. Some weapons are weapons that in the house, or are located in the house; there are some that they have been cleverly able to create. And therefore, it is clear to me that even though we are taking some precautions in this way, that the school plants themselves, whether it is a chair, a desk, some implement in the classroom, there is no certain way to prevent any type of injury taking place whether students or teachers,” Bradshaw.
Nevertheless, she said the Ministry is of the firm belief that it owes it to all concerned to take steps to weed out the bad and deviant behaviour being exhibited by some students. Minister Bradshaw indicated that where students have to be referred to other institutions for help because they have been engaging in a pattern of behaviour that is disruptive to the school, this will also be done.
“Parents I think need to be mindful that their failure to work with us as a Ministry, or work with the schools is not in the best interest of their children right now. We need the full cooperation of all stakeholders in order to be able to bring this matter to rest,” she maintained. (JRT)