Gang violence takes toll on Tavares Gardens Primary

 

Gang violence in Payne Land, St. Andrew, has taken a heavy toll on the student population at Tavares Gardens Primary School, leaving the institution with just 80 students despite having capacity of over 400. 

 

Principal Terriann Nisbeth said that the school has been working with the police and other stakeholders to rebuild confidence in the institution and bring students back.

 

Ms. Nisbeth said some parents have been afraid to send their children to the school, underscoring the urgent need for safer communities and a secure environment for children to learn.

 

"There was a time when the school had a very high population, and we find that when there are violent activities happening, because the school is so much smack in the middle of various communities, we find that children from one community may not be able to enter and feel safe, so they do not feel as if they are in a safe space. So once there are flare-ups, and in the past they were quite often, then parents would just be pulling their children. Also, the parents, it affects the stakeholders because a number times the parents themselves cannot come in to receive their children," she explained.

 

The principal said despite the violence in and around Payne Land, teachers have remained committed to the institution.

 

Ms. Nisbeth said their dedication has helped the school achieve an improvement in literacy. 

 

"Last year we saw over 70 per cent increase in literacy and we have been growing. We have an intervention, a literacy intervention that is thriving at our school. For this summer, we had several of our children who were in a literacy summer school, not just in average summer school. So we find that there is a correlation between literacy and violence, a very strong correlation. And the Ministry of Education is also aware of that correlation and is giving us support," she said.

 

She was speaking on Monday at the launch of Violence Prevention Alliance International World Peace Day, with a focus on peace and environmental action. 

 

The launch featured a tree planting exercise, marking the start of the Trees for Peace campaign - a nationwide competition challenging schools across the island to plant and nurture trees as symbols of peace, unity and hope.

 

The competition will run until the 2027 Easter term.