TWO HIGH school teachers from different institutions were yesterday treating wounds inflicted by students, amid concerns that violence in schools has escalated to worrying levels.
In the latest incident, classes were yesterday suspended at the Knockalva Technical High School in Hanover, as teachers protested against Tuesday's injury of a colleague by a male student.
The disruption at that institution came one day after teachers at the St. Thomas Technical High School withdrew their services for half a day following a similar attack on a member of staff.
SLASHED ON FOREHEAD
It is reported that at the Knockalva Technical High School an 18-year-old fifth form student slashed an electrical installation teacher on his forehead during an argument.
The student, who fled after cutting the teacher, was later held by the Ramble police and has since been charged with unlawful wounding.
He is on bail in the sum of $80,000 and is booked to appear in the Ramble Resident Magistrate's Court on April 20.
Meanwhile, a 16-year-old student of the St. Thomas Technical High School has been charged with unlawful wounding after he allegedly hit a teacher on the head with a piece of iron on Tuesday.
The Golden Grove police report that the teacher, who was subsequently hospitalised, received 12 stitches to close the wound. The 16-year-old attacker, now on bail in the sum of $20,000, is to appear in court on May 1.
According to the police, the student physically assaulted the teacher after he insisted that the child adjust his uniform to conform to school rules.
In the meantime, several students attending yesterday's Gleaner Editors' Forum are worried about the current level of violence in schools.
"School was once a safe haven, now you are being bombarded with all these forces from different angles and that in itself will reflect on students' grades," said Toni-Ann Falconer, a prefect at Glenmuir High School in Clarendon.
Omar D'Acres of Kingston College wants the Government to urgently intensify its Safe Schools Programme. "The Government should hire police officers who work full-time at the school," he told the forum.
Under the initiative introduced in 2004, police personnel called School Resource Officers are now placed in 99 of the 114 schools on the programme.
The Jamaica Teachers' Association said that, with the increase in school violence, it had heightened plans for a 'Classroom Management' forum scheduled for this month.
