Education ministry to deal with security concerns

The Ministry of Education says it is working to strengthen its ability to address security concerns in the island's schools.

"The safety and security team is out in the field to as best as possible work with principals to ensure that everything is in place," Audrey Sewell, permanent secretary in the ministry, told The Gleaner yesterday.

"Recently, we had workshops with the deans of disciplines to sensitise them to alternative methods of discipline and agencies with which they need to liaise and coordinate activities. So we have been doing quite a bit of training, retraining, and development of our deans," she said.

Sewell, however, said limited funds has resulted in infrastructure challenges such as the lack of fencing, and it is affecting security problems in some schools.

"The infrastructure component is our main challenge, but we prioritised the critical areas we are trying to address within the confines of our financial resources, but it will be addressed over time," she said.

The ministry has been having security challenges in the schools over the years.

This has led to the employment of deans of discipline who implement the ministry's behaviour-management strategy for schools, which seeks to ensure the overall security, safety, and well-being of students and staff.

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Workmen carry out refurbishing work to the chamber of Gordon House, the seat of the nation's Parliament, on Duke Street in Kingston yesterday. Parliamentarians will return from their summer break on Tuesday and will conduct the nation's business from the Jamaica Conference Centre as repairs to the roof of the George William Gordon House are currently under way, preventing any use of the chamber and offices. Repair work started two weeks ago and it is estimated to be completed in six weeks. However, the discovery of asbestos pipes in sections of the building has raised fears that the period of work could be extended. The Jamaica Conference Centre will be paid up to $300,000 weekly in rental.- Norman Grindley/Staff Photographer