Chairman and CEO Douglas Orane has the full attention of the audience as he addresses the media briefing hosted by GraceKennedy to share the findings of the baseline survey on the effectiveness of the Police in Schools component of Safe Schools Programme.

There has been a marked improvement in student behaviour at 114 participating Jamaican schools since the implementation of the Safe Schools Programme. This is according to the findings of a baseline survey on the effectiveness of the Safe Schools Programme which was presented by Deputy Superintendent of Police Norman Heywood at a media briefing held at the Corporate Offices of GraceKennedy Ltd. on November 9, 2005. (click here for a DSP Heywood Presentation)

James Moss-Solomon, GraceKennedy's Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, issuing his appeal to Corporate Jamaica to assist in transferring expertise to the police force in its efforts to tackle crime in Jamaica.

According to DSP Heywood, violent incidents among students have decreased since the programme started in schools, from an average of 12 cases per week, to two per week, and there has been a significant reduction in marijuana use and gambling by students. The principals and guidance counsellors who participated in the survey reported an overall improvement in the discipline of students as a result of the addition of the Police in Schools component of the Safe Schools Programme and described the programme as being worthwhile and commendable. Just over 90% of principals reported a marked improvement in student behaviour.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Norman Heywood (left) speaking with Chairman and CEO Douglas Orane on the findings of the baseline survey on the effectiveness of the Police in Schools component of Safe Schools Programme.

In order to assess the effectiveness of the programme, GraceKennedy assisted by training 20 members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force in the use of the Statistical Package for Social Social Scientists (SPSS) version 11.0, a statistical software package used for analyzing data. GraceKennedy also worked along with the Corporate Planning, Research & Development Unit of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, in analysing the date and preparing the final report.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Norman Heywood responding to a comment made by Janilee Abrikian, General Manager of Peace and Love in Schools (PALS)

Speaking at the briefing, James Moss-Solomon, GraceKennedy's Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, called on other corporate entities to identify ways in which they could assist in transferring expertise and knowledge to the police force in order to improve their ability to tackle crime in Jamaica.

Implemented in September 2004, the Safe Schools Programme is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of National Security, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture, and the Jamaica Constabulary Force, along with several NGOs.

Superintendent of Police Lorna Wilson-Morgan (right), speaking with James Moss-Solomon and Cecile McCormack, GraceKennedy's Senior Research and Planning Analyst, about the Police in Schools Programme.

The programme aims to reduce the incidence of violence in schools at the primary / junior high and high school levels. Police officers known as School Resource Officers (SROs) liaise with the schools and at times are stationed within the schools. The SROs, in their current roles: assist in the maintenance of discipline; foster communication among students; help to create a safer environment; assist with intervention strategies, and offer guidance to delinquent students.

Posted: November 11, 2005