The searching of students in public schools will become a permanent feature as the Ministry of Education moves to enforce safety.

This was disclosed by Minister of Education Andrew Holness during a tour of Dunoon Park Technical High School in Kingston, where 16-year-old Shevon Johnson was stabbed and killed by his classmate on Monday morning. The two students were fighting over a cellphone battery.

"It shows that we have to intensify our efforts. Now, more than ever, I am convinced that searches have to become a feature of our education system," Holness told reporters yesterday.

He added: "We appeal to parents, check your children and ensure that they are not carrying weapons to school. I am appealing to our principals; when you discover weapons, report it to the police."

Power to search

Teachers are not allowed to search students but, under the new safety and security guidelines, which will eventually form the Safe Schools policy, educators are to be given the power to search.

Yesterday, Shevon's mother, Patricia Bryan, who was also at the school, said she still could not come to grips with the death of her child.

She said Shevon was a "nice, intelligent person".

She added: "If you don't say anything to him, him don't talk."

The institution was in mourning when The Gleaner visited yesterday afternoon.

Students gathered in the auditorium to pay tribute to Shevon.

"You'll be in our hearts forever," read one tribute, while another stated, "I don't know why God took you. I guess He needed you more than we do, but Dunoon High will always miss you."

Some notice boards at the school were plastered with photographs of Shevon, while students wore black cloth to symbolise mourning.