Let’s address the root of gang involvement in J’can schools
Dear Editor,
From November 8 to 14, 2026 the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information, in collaboration with the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), will observe Anti-Gang in Schools Week under the theme ‘Step Outta Gang, Step Inna Greatness.’ Nevertheless, sustainable prevention requires examining the underlying conditions that foster gang involvement.
The gravity of school violence is substantiated by national research. A study commissioned by the Child Development Agency found that approximately 60 per cent to 65 per cent of Jamaican students had experienced bullying, nine in 10 had witnessed it, and almost 30 per cent feared attending school because of bullying (Child Development Agency, 2015).
More recently, the 2023 Violence Against Children and Youth Survey revealed that 32 per cent of male respondents and 24.1 per cent of female respondents aged 13–24, who had attended school reported awareness of gang activity within their schools (Planning Institute of Jamaica et al, 2024).
Collectively, these findings reinforce the imperative for sustained intervention.
Against this evidentiary backdrop, I maintain that meaningful prevention must confront three interrelated factors — inadequate familial support, adolescents’ psychological need for identity and acceptance, and socio-economic disadvantages.
At the familial level, insufficient emotional support and parental guidance may contribute to alienation, resentment, and susceptibility to negative peer influences. In particular, the absence of an involved father, where alternative mentorship is limited, may exacerbate certain boys’ vulnerabilities. This association, however, must not be construed as inevitable. Consistent support from other responsible caregivers can provide essential protection.
Beyond familial influences, adolescents’ pursuit of belonging, recognition, and respect may increase the appeal of gang affiliation. Consequently, where constructive avenues for identity formation are unavailable, some students may seek perceived authority or protection through groups that normalise intimidation, bullying, and aggression.
Compounding these psychological pressures, socio-economic hardship may heighten recruitment risks when gangs appear to promise material assistance or security. Nevertheless, economic deprivation is neither synonymous with criminality nor sufficient to explain gang membership.
In response, the Ministry and JCF should intensify early intervention, counselling, parental engagement, mentorship, and restorative practices. Indeed, the JCF has emphasised collaboration among school resource officers, administrators, and guidance counsellors to identify vulnerable students and prevent recruitment. Such measures must be adequately resourced and systematically evaluated.
Ultimately, Anti-Gang in Schools Week must transcend symbolic observance and inspire continuous, evidence-informed action. Addressing these interconnected challenges is essential to cultivating safer schools and safeguarding Jamaica’s future.
Kyrone King
Teacher
St Elizabeth Technical High School
Santa Cruz, St Elizabeth
iamkyrone@gmail.com
