KINGSTON, Jamaica — Backgammon, a two-player board game played with counters and dice on table boards, is being considered for several high schools in St Ann, as part of a behaviour modification pilot project.

According to Nina Dixon, regional coordinator for the School’s Safety and Security Branch in the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, the initiative is aimed a eradicating gambling.

“We were asked to implement backgammon clubs in schools, and it will be a behaviour modification tool that we’re going to use for students to help them with their critical thinking skills and decision-making skills,” Dixon told Observer Online.

“Over the past year, I’ve seen where gambling is trending upwards in schools, mainly loodie and they’ve become so sophisticated with it. Sometimes it turns into fights, extortion and it turns into undesired behaviour. There’s nothing wrong with recreation but then, it becomes a safety and security problem,” Dixon reasoned.

Dixon, who supervises the Deans of Disciplines in schools, says she receives monthly reports which suggest that gambling is on the rise.

“Every month the schools send in their daily incident reports, and we’re seeing where gambling is trending upwards within the region,” she said.

Institutions in St Ann where the clubs will be established include York Castle High, Ferncourt High, Walkerswood Academy, Brown’s Town High, Ocho Rios High, Steer Town Academy and Aabuthnott Gallimore High School.

Dixon will be working alongside businessman and Custos of St Ann, Joey Issa to implement the programme.

Last weekend, Issa made it to the finals of the 6th annual International Jamaica Backgammon Tournament, held at Bamboo Blue in St Ann.