TOWARD A POLICY SAFETY AND SECURITY IN SCHOOLS

BACKGROUND  In October 2007 the Hon. Minister established a special committee on “Safety and Security in Schools”, to:  Coordinate the work being done in this area by various divisions within the ministry.  Make recommendations for the development of a policy on safety and security in schools.

THE REPORT The steering committee presented its final report to the Minister on the 26th. May These recommendations informed the drafting of the Schools Security and Safety Minimum Standards and Guidelines which the Ministry intends to introduce in the schools in 2008/2009 school year.

The work of the committee highlighted the important connection between  Creating safer schools and  The promotion of good behaviour and discipline among students. The committee also highlighted  The need to amend the existing legal framework of the school system to support the Ministry’s initiatives towards ensuring safer and more secure schools.

CULTURE OF SAFETY AND SECURITY It is the intention of the Ministry of Education to engender a culture of safety and security in schools whereby safety and security become part of the management functions of each school. To this end the Minimum Standards and Guidelines have been drafted sent to schools in September 2008.

ZERO TOLERANCE The MOE is desirous of fostering a zero tolerance approach within the Jamaican context. The school is not a place for breaking the law. Whatever is illegal in the society is illegal in the school. The school as the chief socialisation agent of the state has a duty to ensure that the law is observed in its domain.

The school leadership has a duty to report infractions of the law to the relevant authorities, in addition to applying sanctions and such measures as are necessary to support or assist the student in modifying behaviour. The MOE will declare certain infractions to be treated in a zero tolerance framework. These infractions will usually be those prescribed in law and are prevalent and dangerous occurrences.

Zero tolerance will therefore mean that:  The Principal must report the offence to the relevant authority. There is no discretion to ignore or ‘cover up’ the offence designated as zero tolerated.  The Principal and where appropriate, the Board of Management, must apply sanctions to the offence, and the sanctions should be appropriate to the offence (rehabilitative interventions should be applied where necessary).

STUDENT RECORD Where misbehaviour is observed or brought to the attention of the principal/teacher it must be recorded to the account of the student. The MOE wishes to create as a tool of behaviour management, a permanent record for every student in the education system. The permanent record details behavioural and academic performance of the student and is transferable.

THE PARENTS Principals are directed to engage the parents in reinforcing the safety and security standards (safety and security begins at home). Parents must be involved in the development of the Safety and Security policy and they must be constantly informed and updated as the procedures evolve. Safety and Security must be an agenda item at all PTA meetings.

STUDENTS The principal is directed to engage the students in a safety and security campaign in schools. Security and safety should be integrated in the school curriculum and teaching strategies of the school.

STAFF The principal is directed to detect and record disruptive activities in school as discussed before (use the Daily Behaviour Record Sheet which was sent to schools). The entire staff of the school must be sensitised and alerted to signs of anti social behaviours and develop a culture of recording and reporting such behaviours.

POLICE AND FIRE SERVICES Principals are directed to make contacts with the officer in charge of the local police station and the nearest fire station and establish a protocol for cooperation. Principals should make contact with the Community Safety Branch of their zone, to conduct Crime Prevention Survey on the school and its facilities at reasonable intervals or as is needed.

Principals should engage the police in a concerted and proactive effort to tackle problem of gangs, possession of weapons, drug use, violence, and petty offences in schools.

Principals are directed to establish and maintain a good working relationship and collaborate with all national and local agencies that can assist the school with safety and security issues  e.g. Fire Services, Health Departments, ODPEM. The Critical Incident Management Plan (CIMP) to be released soon entails the steps to be taken toward this end. OTHER GOVT. AGENCIES

School boundaries to be clearly defined and protected. Perimeter fencing is recommended, where none exists or the fencing is inadequate the school administration should develop plans to have secure fencing erected. Fencing must now be considered a priority in all schools. CONTROLLING ACCESS TO SCHOOL CAMPUS

Entry and exit points should be established and clearly defined and should be physically monitored. Proper signage is recommended for these points. Where entry and exit points are not considered for use they must be secured and closed. The use of surveillance cameras, remote gates, and turn styles may be used to enhance physical monitoring.

Principals are directed to establish operating times for access to the school e.g. General entry period, general teaching/class period, general exit period, co-curricular period, closing time. Visitors should be required to give particulars about themselves and the intended visit. Vehicle registration should also be noted upon entry and exit. SCHOOL ACCESS POLICY

Conditions of entry should be spelt out All visitors should be required to report to the General Office from where directives are given. Restrictive movement is recommended. Members of the Media must seek permission to conduct activities on the school compound. On entry they must report directly to the principal.

SECURITY PERSONNEL All security personnel should be trained and certified in established security procedures for operating in schools. Their roles should be clearly defined.

All items prohibited by the school are referred to as contraband. Clear rules and sanctions are to be set and communicated to all parents, teachers, students, visitors, governing the items that are prohibited. The MOE is designating all schools non smoking zones for all persons within the domain of the school. CREATING A SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT FREE OF WEAPONS AND CONTRABAND

A zero tolerance approach should be taken against the possession of weapons, drugs and controlled substances by students.  Persons found with these should reported to the police and their parents notified. The principal is directed to inform all parents/guardians in writing of the school’s zero tolerance stance on weapons, drugs, and controlled substances by students.

SCHOOL SEARCHES The MOE endorse the power of the principal (and by extension) the teachers, to search students where this action is reasonably necessary for the prevention or detection of a crime, the maintenance of discipline or for the preserving the welfare of staff and students.  (Guidelines for searches will accompany the security guidelines). Principals are expected to arrange for searches of the school compound and property for drugs and weapons as part of school inspection.

The present policy of the MOE is that, cell phones are not permitted to be used during the general Teaching/Class Time and any other times designated by the principal during school hours. The Ministry is aware that some schools have more restrictive policies that totally ban the use of cell phones on the school compound and these initiatives are endorsed where reasonably necessary to maintain discipline. APPROPRIATE USE OF CELLULAR PHONES

Where a student is observed using a cellular phone in contravention of the school rules, the MOE supports confiscation following an appropriate warning. Where a cell phone has been confiscated, the mandatory period of confiscation should not extend beyond the end of the school term in which the object was seized, and should only be released to the parent/guardian. The principal is directed to establish a system of logging confiscated cell phone and take measures for their safe custody.

BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT Under the behaviour management strategy the following will obtain; 1. PASS – to prevent exclusion temporary or permanent. 2. ASIP- partial or permanent withdrawal from the formal school system (under the MOE’s policy that each child must be attached to an institution from age three to age eighteen, and compulsory education).

3.A national “Code of Conduct” for students and teachers. 4.Serious prevention and intervention programmes beginning at the “Early Childhood” level. 5.Assignment of an additional TEO in each region to monitor and implement behaviour modification strategies. 6.Tool kits with alternate forms of discipline strategies. 7.Time-out facilities.

IN SUMMARY The MOE;  Wishes to develop and engender a culture of safety and security in the leadership and general population of all schools.  Has issued the minimum standards and guidelines on “Safety and Security in Schools” in September  Has issued at least two hand held metal detectors to each secondary schools since the start of the school year.

 Will be developing a national code of conduct for teachers and students during the school year.  Is determined to make schools more peaceful and secure.

THE END! THANK YOU