Port Henderson Primary pleads for gov’t help to address security woes

WESTERN BUREAU:

The leadership of Port Henderson Primary School in St Catherine is calling for immediate government intervention to address space and security concerns that are negatively affecting the safety and well-being of students and teachers.

Ramona Brownfield, principal of Port Henderson Primary, made her appeal during a question-and-answer session with Education Minister Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon at the recently concluded 62nd annual conference of the Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA), held at Ocean Coral Spring Hotel in Trelawny.

Brownfield said while the school owns the property on which its buildings are located, it does not own the adjoining land which, she believes, is needed to accommodate additional classrooms.

“I am here desperately seeking assistance in acquiring the land. We own our part where the building of the school is, but behind, we are not owning that land, and I need classroom space,” she told the minister.

She said the shortage of space had forced the school to use areas intended for other purposes to accommodate students.

“I have students in the staff room. I have two classrooms in the staff room, and also a grade six [class] in the resource room,” she said.

Brownfield also identified the school’s perimeter fence as another major area of concern, saying its condition was creating opportunities for unauthorised entry and exit, particularly by disobedient students.

“My other main problem is the perimeter fence,” said Brownfield, who went on to describe an incident in which a student, who became upset with a teacher, “stepped over the fence and had to be found and taken back to the school”.

She also recounted another incident involving a man of unsound mind who walked onto the compound and created an unwanted distraction.

“A man of unsound mind came on the school compound and was engaged in activities on the compound that traumatised my teachers and students,” said Brownfield. “So, I am asking, please, that help come to Port Henderson Primary School.”

In responding to Brownfield’s concerns, Morris Dixon said the Government would have to examine the school’s location and the safety implications before deciding on the best course of action.

“I’m told that it (the school) is right on the roadway, so there’s some safety issues for children there,” she said.

“What I’ve noted is that we may need to look at relocating the school instead of necessarily acquiring land next door. But we’ll obviously have to do some consultation on that one.”

However, JTA President La Sonja Harrison subsequently urged the minister to reconsider relocation in favour of improving the existing facility.

“I humbly suggest that you revisit the suggestion of relocation of a school vis-à-vis that of raising the wall and assisting in purchasing an additional piece of land,” said Harrison, who received vocal support from the delegates in attendance.

albert.ferguson@gleanerjm.com