Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

Newly appointed consultant to the Ministry of Education, Alphansus Davis, has been charged with the responsibility of developing a national policy on violence in schools.

Mr. Davis said he would be canvassing the views of stakeholders in the education sector, in developing the policy.

As such he will be travelling around the island, beginning next week, to meet with the stakeholders in education.

"The minister has charged me to hear from the schools what security measures they have in place now, then I can provide him with information on where the stakeholders want the security policy to go," Mr. Davis told The Gleaner.

He noted that, following this, he would conduct a research on security measures instituted in schools locally and internationally, with a view to implement some of these in the policy.

Timeline not yet set

Mr. Davis said a timeline for the implementation has not been set. However, he said he would recommend to the ministry that the policy come on-stream before the start of the new school year, noting that experience has taught that the most violent term in the school year is usually the Easter term.

A long-time advocate for banning cellphones in schools, Mr. Davis said a policy on cellphones would also be included in the document.

The outgoing president of the Association of Principals and Vice-Principals said he was confident he would succeed in the task that he has set out to do.

"Whatever task I am entrusted with, I have a high sense of confidence simply because I believe in team work, I believe in consultation," he said.

Ruel Reid, principal of Jamaica College, is also a consultant to the Education Ministry. He will be responsible for matters relating to the island's teachers.

petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com