Waite calls for more security at schools

Nadisha Hunter, Staff Reporter

Opposition Spokesman on Education Basil Waite is calling on the Government to beef up security at schools across the island in the wake of a number of break-ins at public educational facilities.

Waite told The Gleaner that Government should look at a policy which would see all schools having security measures in place that would lessen the number of the criminal activities occurring at the institutions.

Pointing to the robbery which occurred at a primary school in St Elizabeth last Monday, Waite said it was a matter that needed to be addressed with much urgency.

"They broke into a school in St Elizabeth and the principal indicated that she asked the ministry for security and she was told that security is not deployed in primary schools. We believe that it has now got to a point where schools are no longer sacred territory in that regard," he lamented.

Waite said it was even more urgent now that the e-learning programme will be introduced to primary schools.

"Just like high school where you have a number of computers and broadband network and all of the expensive equipment, that will be the similar situation at the primary schools, and we believe that it is important that we protect taxpayers' money, and prevention is better than cure. So essentially, I believe that that policy needs to be overhauled," he said.