Holness

Amid the growing level of indiscipline and violence among schoolchildren, the Ministry of Education is moving to introduce school patrols.

Speaking Monday night during the Rotary Club of St Andrew North's weekly meeting, Andrew Holness, minister of education, said preliminary discussions have begun between his office and the national security ministry.

Holness told The Gleaner that this initiative will be a part of the Expanded Safe Schools Programme.

He noted that the school patrols would be conducted by police officers, whose duty would be to intervene in fights and ensure that students return home safely, among other things.

Expanded programme

He noted that this was not a resource-intensive exercise, given the fact that the schools usually dismiss between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

The education minister appealed to Jamaicans to assist with purchasing vehicles to carry out the patrols.

Meanwhile, Holness said the safety and security policy, which will eventually form the basis for safe schools legislation, will also state that a child who is in uniform is still considered to be in school.