ST JAMES, Jamaica— Researcher and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bluedot Insights, Larren Peart presented data showing a “very close proximity between schools and the crime hotspots” in the western parishes of Trelawny, St James, Hanover and Westmoreland.

“When you get to more, for example, rural areas where you have basic schools and primary schools, the hotspots are not as prevalent. But definitely when you start looking at high schools which tend to be more centralised, the hotspots of crime are high,” Peart argued.

“Crime and educational issues are deeply intertwined,” he said, adding, “not enough research has been done in this area.”

He underscored that while the Jamaica Constabulary Force has done research to try and bridge the gap, more is needed to be done.

“Criminal activity undermines educational systems, disrupts student development and perpetuates cycles of disadvantage,” said Peart.

He was delivering the keynote address at the Sam Sharpe Teachers’ College Biennial Research Day in Montego Bay on Wednesday. The day’s event was held under the theme “The Impact of Crime on Education: The Western Jamaica Perspective.”

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in charge of St James, Vernon Ellis outlined the impact of crime on education in the parish from the police’s perspective.

On students, he pointed to a lack of interest in school from youths who see crime as a lucrative attraction, particularly lottery scamming, inability to attend school/classes due to ongoing gang violence as well as ongoing gang violence causing families to reallocate funds to the detriment of education.

SSP Ellis also underlined the traumatic experience of witnessing or even being the victim of crime disrupting an individual’s learning ability or experience.

“The impact of gangs in schools negatively affects the learning experience as violent confrontations disrupt classes which disrupts teaching and as a corollary, learning is affected,” SSP Ellis said.

Sam Sharpe Research Day Coordinator, Kerry-Ann Kerr-Williams said “The consensus among stakeholders participating in the discussions was that criminal activities are indeed a nuisance to our society. However, with vested interest to eradicate this monster, our nation needs to be introspective towards nurturing our students who are the future.”