Maurice Smith, a student at Manchester High School, is demanding a safer environment for the island's teachers. He has also called for a significant increase in their salaries.

Smith was addressing The Gleaner's annual teachers' appreciation luncheon at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston yesterday.

"Teachers work too hard, do too much for social development and are paid too little to come to school and be even in the slightest doubt of their personal safety," he said.

"I personally believe that teachers should be paid twice as much as they are now. I can say this because I do not have ambitions of becoming the next minister of finance," said Smith amid laughter.

While in Opposition, Audley Shaw now the minister of finance and the public service, promised that under a Jamaica Labour Party Government, nurses' salaries would be doubled. However, he has now indicated that this will not be immediately possible.

Children's actions

Smith told the guests at the luncheon that for a very long time the safety and security of teachers have not been given adequate attention. He also charged that parents be held responsible for their children's actions.

Meanwhile, Spanish Town Primary and Manchester High School yesterday walked away with the top awards for being the institutions with the highest sales for the Children's Own and Youthlink, respectively.