Ottos Comprehensive School adds security and counselors following shooting

The Ottos Comprehensive School, where many students are still experiencing trauma after the recent shooting incident, is receiving support to address the various challenges arising from the traumatic event.

Clare Browne, the Director of Education, has announced that extra security personnel will be stationed at the school starting today.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Education is reallocating its counselors from other schools to provide specialized counseling sessions for the staff and students at OCS.

“Many students remain traumatized from the incident that occurred at the YMCA complex on Wednesday afternoon when shots were discharged from a firearm near where the students had congregated”, he said

According to Browne, since then, there have been interventions from both the ministries of social transformation and education in an attempt to help the students and faculty through these difficult times

Browne mentioned that the ministry has faced obstacles in fully mobilizing its complete team to visit the school due to events that occurred after the shooting.

The sports event had to be canceled because of the incident. On that day, less than 100 students and a majority of the staff did not attend school.

Friday was observed as mid-term holidays. Monday was designated as report card day, and many parents visited the school to collect their children’s report cards.

On Monday, the Director of Education paid a visit to the school and addressed both the students and faculty.

He acknowledged the presence of a strong sense of unease among them and emphasized that the ministry is aware of how this environment hinders the learning process.

“We are anxious to have normality return to the school as we recognize that both teachers and students must feel safe and comfortable in order for learning to take place,” the education director says

“ We at the ministry are doing our level best to ensure that this sense of security returns to OCS,” he added

Director Browne expressed his concern for the well-being of students and teachers during his visit to the school.

He acknowledged the need for psycho-social counseling and assured everyone that he was taking steps to mobilize the resources of the ministry to make this happen.

Meanwhile eighteen-year-old Jaheim Mannix of Villa is facing criminal charges for firing shots at an Ottos Comprehensive School sporting

Mannix was charged over the weekend for discharging a firearm in a public place, specifically Stapleton Lane near the YMCA Sports Complex.

Mannix appeared in court this morning and was remanded until tomorrow.

The principal of Ottos Comprehensive School, Foster Roberts, expressed concern last week, stating that teachers and students were traumatized by the incident.

The school had to cancel the remainder of their week-long activities to ensure everyone’s safety. And on the following day, less than 80% of students and teachers turned up for what should have been a typical day.