Former Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly says police officers have a legitimate role in schools but cannot be expected to replace trained Student Support Services personnel.
Speaking during the Opposition’s September 10 press conference, Gadsby-Dolly said the presence of police in schools is not new and has formed part of previous efforts to address school violence.
However, she said the concern is the role now being assigned to officers while Student Support Services are being depleted.
Gadsby-Dolly said Trinidad and Tobago has more than 400 schools but only 51 police officers operating in schools under the arrangement she referenced.
“We have 400 and something schools. We have 51 police in schools. That can’t work,” she said.
She argued that police officers are not trained to replace guidance counsellors, social workers and other professionals responsible for behavioural and psychosocial intervention.
Gadsby-Dolly said police can assist schools and provide valuable links to communities and police youth clubs, but maintained that their role should complement rather than replace Student Support Services.
She described expecting police to function as a substitute for those services as a flawed approach.
