Director of Safety and Security in the Ministry of Education, Richard Troupe, says there appears to be a correlation between the recent drop in the country’s murder figure and fewer violent incidents at schools.
Speaking at Sunday’s National Safe School Church Service in Greater Portmore, St. Catherine, Mr. Troupe noted that violence in schools often mirrors what happens in the wider society.
“The violence we see in school is directly related, connected to the violence we see in our homes, the violence we see in our communities and the tendency for us to believe that it is normal, it is okay. Let us reject violence in all its forms. But as we reject the same, let us understand that we have a responsibility to do what is necessary to make ourselves safe, our peers safe, our families safe,” he charged.
Mr. Troupe reminded students that they too have a role to play in protecting themselves. He urged them to be cautious about the friends they choose and the activities they get involved in.
“The things you do, the things you glorify as okay is something that you’ll have to reflect on come Monday morning and beyond. While we thank our school administrators and teachers for creating safe learning environments for you, I encourage you to also recognise that you too have a role to play. It begins with the friends you keep, the things you do.
It begins by understanding the importance of your parents’ investment in you going to school. You’re going to school to learn. You’re going to school to create a path for your career choices.”
Meanwhile, the St. Catherine South Divisional Community Safety and Security Unit of the Jamaica Constabulary Force is ramping up its focus on school safety, with special attention being given to 10 of the 50 schools in the division.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Paulette Baker made the announcement while addressing the congregation at the Division’s National Safe School Church Service held Sunday at the Greater Portmore Open Bible Church.
While DSP Baker did not name the schools, she noted that the division spans communities like Portmore, Old Harbour and Central Village.
“We have over 50 schools that we monitor as police officers, and we do our daily visits there. There are 10 schools on the list that we pay special attention to. They are on the Ministry of Education Safe School Programme, and so we have all work cut out for us as we engage the schools on a daily basis,” she said.
At the same time, DSP Baker emphasised that school safety is a shared responsibility.
“Our purpose is clear and single. To create sanctuaries to learn where our nation’s children strive, where the only thing they fear is a difficult maths test, and the only gangs they know are group of friends studying for exams. We cannot do this alone. The police cannot, the church cannot, the schools cannot. True safety is a collaborative mission. It requires teachers who see beyond the classroom, parents who engage beyond PTA meetings, pastors who preach beyond the pulpit, and neighbours who care beyond their fence lines,” she stressed.
The church service was held under the theme Building Safe Schools Through Faith, Unity and Purpose: Anchored for Academic Success 2025-2026.
School resource officers, students from several schools, educators, parents, and other community stakeholders were in attendance.