KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) is raising concerns about the safety and security of students and teachers amid ongoing construction activities at several schools while classes are in session.

According to a release from the JTA, the association conducted school tours, particularly in western Jamaica, and observed ongoing construction on campuses. It said the activities have raised significant concerns about the safety and security of students and teachers.

JTA President La Sonja Harrison said she believed some improvements may have been made, noting that the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information had dispatched safety and security education officers and building officers to conduct assessments.

“As a result, recommendations to contractors as well as measures to hold them accountable should be the order of the day,” Harrison said.

She also highlighted two other safety concerns brought to the association’s attention last week.

The first involved a break-in at Bickersteth Primary in St James, where resources purchased for the start of the new academic year were stolen. Harrison said the incident has resulted in a setback for students, teachers and parents, compounded by the loss of teaching and learning time while the school was closed to facilitate investigations.

She described the situation as “simply untenable” and said it requires urgent attention.

Harrison also raised concern about an incident at Seaward Primary, where an armed assailant breached the school’s perimeter fence and confronted a teacher in the presence of her students.

The teacher was robbed of her laptop, cellular phone, purse and other personal belongings, while her students witnessed the incident.

“Thankfully, no lives were lost. However, we cannot overlook the serious personal and financial burden this incident has placed on the teacher,” Harrison said.

She argued that teachers should not be expected to bear the personal and financial consequences of inadequate security at schools where they are entrusted to educate and protect children.

The JTA said the incidents underscore its current claim before the Government for additional security, including school resource officers and closed-circuit television cameras at schools.

The association said the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service has indicated that it cannot support the request outside existing budgetary allocations.

“The safety of our children and those who serve them in our schools must be of national priority! Our schools must be safe zones,” Harrison said.