WHAT IS THE SAFE SCHOOLS PROGRAMME (SSP)?

The Safe Schools Programme is a special programme developed to assist schools in managing violence, antisocial behaviour, truancy, children at risk and generally to keep the school environment safe. The programme will be monitored under the theme “Safe Schools…Everybody’s Business”.

WHO IS A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER

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A School Resource Officer (SRO) is a Police Officer, who is placed in a school to help maintain and sustain discipline. He/she is responsible to prosecute any student who commits any unlawful act on the school compound. Specifically, the SRO is responsible to identify troubled and disruptive students and bring them to the attention of the schools administration.

BRIEF HISTORY

The Public Order Committee of Cabinet directed the formulation of a strategy to reverse the trend of violence affecting schools. In response the Safe Schools Programme was designed as a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency initiative that coordinates the efforts of the government and partners to benefit from the synergy created through the cooperation of all entities. The principal partners from the government are:

• Ministry of Education (Education Transformation Team, Guidance Unit, Culture Division & Curriculum and Support Services Department).
• Ministry of National Security
• Ministry of Health
• The Jamaica Constabulary Force

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