A cruel scam against high school students across the island, said to be perpretrated by their own teachers, has been uncovered by The STAR.

The simple and yet highly lucrative scheme is carried out when items are confiscated from students. A student of a high school in the downtown area, who was forced to pay $500 for the return of her gold chain, related her ordeal.

"Dem lik a search and tek mi chain and erring dem ... dem know seh u nuh want u peoples (parents) find out, so dem charge yuh fi get it back," said the student.

Forced to go hungry

The young girl admitted that she was forced to go hungry at school for the rest of the week, as she could not inform her mother that she had worn her jewellery to school. Other students at the school, estimate that on any one 'search', teachers make approximately $20,000 from confiscated items.

"The money enough to share up, suh all a dem in on it," she added.

Another student from a prominent high school in Mandeville, was forced to fork out a whopping $1,500 when her Motorola Razr was confiscated in a search conducted by teachers.

"They don't take your things to the principal, what they do is tell you how much it is to return it, and you find the money or they turn it over and you get in trouble ... phones, jackets, jewellery, anything that is not allowed, they charge you. The more it costs, the more they charge," the student commented.

Strapped for cash

In addition to charging the students based on the expense of the items, these 'hustler' teachers allegedly plan their 'bag raids,' when they are strapped for cash.

"They usually search in the last two weeks in the month, when dem likkle money dun ... they take away all our lunch money, but since nobody wants to get in trouble, they work with it," said a student who had to borrow money from a friend in order to pay the teacher's exorbitant fees.

The STAR spoke to a teacher from Spanish Town, on condition of anonymity, who himself admitted to taking money for the return of items confiscated.

"I don't scam them (students), but sometimes they beg me not to get them in trouble, and give me a ting to return their phone. a di student dem come up wid it, not me," said the teacher of Mathematics.

However, he says he only takes about $100, and chastises teachers who take too much money.

"Is jus a lunch dem usually buy me. Those teachers who force the kids to give up their lunch money heartless and wicked," said the teacher.

President of the Association of Principals and Vice-Principals, Alphansus Davis, describes the action of such teachers, as "exploitation."

A procedure

"This is the first I'm hearing of this, but it cannot be condoned," said Mr. Davis. "All schools have a policy that if an item is confiscated, a record is made, and the item handed over to the principal or vice-principal."

"When the item is being returned, the record usually has a place where they (parent or student) signs for receiving it ... anything outside of this procedure is exploitation," he concluded.