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 by various divisions within the ministry and make recommendations for the development of a policy on safety and security in schools.

THE REPORT The committee highlighted the important connection between:  Creating safer schools  The promotion of good behaviour and discipline among students and  Amend the existing legal framework of the school system to support the Ministry’s initiatives towards ensuring safer and more secure schools

THE REPORT CONT’D Culture of Safety and Security  Becomes a part of school management function Zero Tolerance  Duty of Principal to report infractions of the law to the relevant authorities  The Board of Management must apply sanctions to the offence Student Record  The permanent record details behavioural and academic performance of the student and is transferable

THE REPORT CONT’D Critical Incident Management Plan (CIMP)  Soon to be released which details the steps to be taken. School Access Policy  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.  Members of the Media must seek permission to conduct activities on the school compound. On entry they must report directly to the principal.

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.

STAFF The principal is directed to detect and record disruptive activities in school as discussed before (use the Daily Behaviour Record Sheet). 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.

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. OTHER GOVT. AGENCIES

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

CONTROLLING ACCESS TO SCHOOL CAMPUS CONT’D Entry and exit points should be established and clearly defined and actively monitored. Proper signage for these points. Entry and exit points not in use must be secured and closed. The use of surveillance cameras, remote gates, and turn styles may enhance physical monitoring.

Visitors should be required to give particulars about themselves and the intended visit. Vehicle registration should also be noted upon entry and exit. 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. SCHOOL ACCESS POLICY

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

CREATING A SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT FREE OF WEAPONS AND CONTRABAND CONT’D 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).

BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT CONT’D 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 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.

THE END! THANK YOU