HOLNESS... When someone invades a school compound it's the same thing as invading someone's home

EDUCATION Minister Andrew Holness has again called on the police to take prompt action against persons who invade school premises to assault teachers and students.

He also advised school administrators to ensure that such perpetrators are arrested and taken to court for prosecution, rather than trying to deal with school violence internally.

"When someone invades a school compound it's the same thing as invading someone's home; it's a criminal matter and it must be treated as such," Holness said Tuesday. "I personally would like to see people who carry out such acts arrested and prosecuted. But too many principals and PTAs want to deal with them internally without carrying them to the courts. My view is that they (perpetrators) must go before the courts and an example be made of them."

The minister was speaking against the background of the now regular altercations involving students, their parents and friends, and school staff at educational institutions islandwide.

Some of the incidents have resulted in serious injury to students and staff. Just last month a teacher of Garlogie Primary and Junior High in Manchester was chopped and beaten by a mob which invaded the school premises. The teacher had been accused of administering corporal punishment on a student who did not do his homework.
Last Friday and on Monday, teachers of Ocho Rios High in St Ann stayed out of their classrooms in protest of a parent who allegedly threatened a teacher with a knife.

A source at the Williamsfield Police Station told the Observer that one person has since been convicted in the court in relation to the Garlogie incident. The minister also expressed his dissatisfaction with the response of the police to school violence.

"The Ministry of Education is not the Ministry of National Security, and I will be meeting with the minister of national security and the commissioner of police to let them know that when such acts of violence and threats occur, the police must move swiftly to demonstrate their own disgust. They will not be able to solve the national crime problem unless they are able to set an example in the schools," Holness stated.

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