Trinidad and Tobago: Bomb scare spurs call for school emergency protocol review
In the aftermath of Monday’s bomb scare that sent ripples of panic through the southeastern district, Martin Lum Kin, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teacher's Association (TTUTA), has branded the incident as an ‘'act of treason’.
However, amidst the chaos, Lum Kin has directed his focus towards a pressing concern: the need for a revised protocol allowing school principals to dismiss classes early during emergencies.
Principal authority under scrutiny
Speaking exclusively to Loop News, Lum Kin underscored the urgency for the Ministry of Education to grant principals the autonomy to make decisions in the interest of students’ safety.
Despite extensive sweeps by law enforcement and bomb disposal units across the 49 affected schools until late hours, classes were compelled to proceed as normal, prompting criticism from Lum Kin.
Citing Section 72 of the Principal's Act and principals' job descriptions, Lum Kin emphasized that the authority to address health and safety concerns, including the discretion to dismiss schools in extreme circumstances, lies inherently with the principals.
He expressed concern over the Ministry's recent directives, which appear to undermine this authority, relegating principals to mere applicants for early dismissals.
Call for safety protocols
Of particular concern to Lum Kin was the prolonged wait endured by both students and teachers at designated muster points, exposed to the elements due to insufficient resources within the police and fire services and bomb disposal units.
Highlighting the inadequacy of resources to cover such a vast geographic area promptly, Lum Kin called for a thorough review of education policies to ensure comprehensive coverage of health and safety protocols.
Government urged to bolster security infrastructure
Expanding his plea, Lum Kin called upon the government to prioritize equipping national security forces with the necessary resources to effectively respond to threats.
Stressing the importance of timely and thorough checks in the wake of previous lapses, Lum Kin emphasized the need for bolstered manpower and enhanced training to prevent the recurrence of security breaches.
Trauma lingers
Reflecting on the lingering trauma from past incidents and heightened awareness of security vulnerabilities within school premises, Lum Kin underscored the pervasive fear and anxiety among teachers and staff following Monday’s scare.
