Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter
Students of Vauxhall High School in east Kingston, sit idly after teachers walked out of classes yesterday to protest the lack of proper security at the school where a girl was raped lat week. - RICARDO MAKYN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Teachers at the Vauxhall High School in East Kingston, boycotted classes yesterday, to protest against the rape of a female student and other security concerns.
For years, staff and students at the institution have been affected by violence.
One of the vice-principals at the school told The Gleaner yesterday that the teachers are frustrated because members of the community are constantly invading the school compound and harassing the students. The vice-principal explained that teachers and students are oftentimes distracted by men looking through the windows when classes in session.
"The teachers feel intimidated and they feel that they cannot continue to teach in this kind of environment," the vice-principal said.
He noted that a perimeter fence, which was damaged during Hurricane Ivan in 2004, is the source of the problem. The vice-principal who is in charge of the afternoon shift said work had started on the fence last year but it did not get very far.
The vice-principal told The Gleaner that students, especially the females, are fearful and oftentimes request to use the staff bathroom because they are afraid to go around to the back of the school where the bathrooms are located.
He also told The Gleaner that there are times when he has to escort female students off the school compound.
Vauxhall is on the Safe Schools Programme, where police personnel called School Resource Officers (SRO) are placed in schools. However, the administrator said the thugs usually visit the school after the SROs leave.
