12-y-o shot at school

Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) President Leighton Johnson has intensified calls for enhanced security measures in schools following a shooting incident at Ocho Rios High School, St Ann, yesterday.

A 12-year-old female student was shot in the thigh, but the police say her condition is serious but stable.

Reports are that a 14-year-old male student took a pistol to school to show off to classmates. It is reported that at around 12:45 p.m., several students were in the social studies lab handling the gun when one of them is said to have pulled the trigger, releasing a bullet that hit the female student.

"This recent incident underscores the stark reality that our schools are not as safe as they should be," Johnson told THE STAR. "There are students within our educational institutions who pose severe threats to the safety of their peers and educators. It is imperative that we urgently heighten and prioritise security protocols across all schools."

The weapon, which was said to be in a knapsack, was recovered by teachers and handed over to the police. Senior Superintendent of Police Dwight Powell, the commanding officer for the St Ann Police Division, said an investigation has been launched into the incident.

"We are probing this shooting incident and we are following leads as to how and by what means the student came in possession of the firearm," Powell said.

Meanwhile, Johnson expressed concern over the ease with which weapons are brought on to school premises.

"I am not certain as to how it is the youngster was able to bring a firearm into the school. It would indicate that students do have various ways of concealing different weapons while they come in to our school compounds. But the fact that a student could bring a firearm on to school grounds suggests that there are loopholes in our security measures. Comprehensive screening and scrutiny of all persons entering school compounds must be enforced rigorously to safeguard the school community," said Johnson.

Noting reports of limited resources, Johnson opined that school security is not a luxury, but a fundamental requirement for educational and national development.

"We must ensure schools are equipped with adequate security personnel, upgraded surveillance systems, and secure perimeters. This includes considering the deployment of school resource officers or police posts to effectively manage and prevent incidents involving weapons on campuses," he said.

Johnson reiterated the JTA's commitment to advocating for safer school environments without political motives. "We are not being mischievous at calling on governments. We are not going down on a political witch hunt. We are simply identifying the deficits within the system and we know as a nation [we] must demonstrate our willingness to ensure that as we serve our people, we serve them with the highest level of efficiency and safety and security is a major concern in our schools" he affirmed.