DIRECTOR of safety and security in schools at the Ministry of Education, Sergeant Coolridge Minto, has urged students to take a stand against immorality in order to help correct some of the things that are wrong in the society.

He said that the time had come for children to start “speaking up and speaking out” against abuse, crime, corruption and immoral behaviours, while urging teachers, parents and guardians to assist the process.

“When our children are being featured in all sorts of immoral and illicit activities including lotto scamming… we need to take a stand. Teachers, parents and guardians …all of us have a significant role to play in ensuring that the youth achieve their career goals legally and morally,” he stated.

Sergeant Minto was addressing the presentation ceremony for the 22nd renewal of the Montego Co-operative Credit Union Limited’s Schools Academic Championship Quiz, held Thursday at the University of the West Indies’ Western Jamaica Campus in Montego Bay.

“… Never allow your situation in life to keep you down. Many of us came out of humble beginnings but we have been able to pull ourselves together on the way to being productive, law-abiding citizens,” Minto said.

The school safety and security director, meanwhile, chided people who continue to give teachers ‘a bad name’.

“Teaching is a difficult job. When you look at what is happening in our schools and in our society and the role our teachers play in building prime ministers, police officers, governors general and other professionals in our country, I believe every teacher deserves to be treated with respect; we often criticise them too much,” he stated.

Sergeant Minto said he was aware of challenges faced by schools, but said parents, guardians, and educators need to start looking at how they can become a part of the solution.

Chetwood Primary School retained the Montego

Co-operative Credit Union’s Schools Academic Championship Quiz title for the third time, defeating first- time entrant DMP Academy 34-15 in the final.