School administrators have been directed to review their entry and search policies to detect and seize weapons on school compounds.

This was revealed by Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who says the matter has been discussed with the Ministries of National Security and Education. This is part of efforts to address violence in schools.

In recent weeks, there have been a number of violent incidents involving school children.

On Monday, 20-year-old Akeilia White, died after she was stabbed allegedly by another student at the Catholic College of Mandeville, in Manchester.

Another student was wounded in the incident and a 17-year-old boy is facing murder and wounding charges.

The Prime Minister says the directive to the schools will be sent out soon.

Meantime, the government is to undertake a reassessment of the security risks of schools.

Prime Minister Holness says he has directed the ministries of education and national security to undertake this process.

Mr. Holness explains that the reassessment will allow the authorities to get a better understanding of which schools are at risk and how to direct resources to them.

He says the issue of school violence has emerged as a matter of grave concern coming out of the pandemic, noting that there has been a change in the behavior of the youth.

Stating that the Education Ministry’s initiatives to address school violence have generally been working, Mr. Holness underscores the need to reassess the security risk due to the behavior change.