Teachers resist making reports on incidents

A threat by Education Minister Andrew Holness Thursday to compel schools administrators to complete critical incident report forms created to record major infractions in schools has been met with a terse response from the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA).

Holness, during the launch of Security and Safety month, said there has been a "resistance and a reluctance" among principals and teachers to complete the forms, which are designed to help the ministry manage safety and security issues in schools.

"If we can't get simple data to be returned, to us then we must make it a condition of their employment," Holness declared.

"I can only say it as clearly as that," he emphasised.

JTA president Nadine Molloy Young, when contacted, said Holness would be "unwise" to take that approach.

"The minister must understand that where teachers' lives are going to be threatened when they make reports, they are going to be reluctant to make reports," Molloy Young told The Gleaner.

"It is not an unreasonable request, but it's not what they do it's how they do it," she complained.

Consultative process

The JTA president said there is a consultative process that should be observed so administrators can begin to appreciate the importance of the critical incident report forms.

March has been designated security and safety month in schools to bring awareness to and promote initiatives aimed at curbing the rising incidents of violence in schools.

Holness pointed to safety and security policy instituted by his ministry to stem the rising incidents of violence in schools.

He said policy, which includes a ban on cellphones and other specified personal items in school, has been successful and the ministry of education now intends to turn this policy into law.

"A law which is already being drafted, already being considered, is to be called the safety and security legislation," Holness said.