Dimitri Shashkini: “Establishment of service of school Resource Officers service is one of the most successful project of the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia”

Newspaper: “24 hour” - November 14

Gvanca Kilasonia

In April, 2010 Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia implemented new initiative in the frames of “Safe School Program”. USA experience was adjusted to Georgian reality. Resource Officers soon deserved respect and trust from children and their parents.

We have interviewed Minister of Education and Science of Georgia, Mr. Dimitri Shashkini about successful work implemented by school resource officers and news in the educational institutions. 

 “Mr. Dimitri, your opponents, who criticize the reforms in the educational system, fully recognize resource officer’s service. “

“Yes, establishment of the service of school resource officers is one of the most successful project of the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia. Our main goal is to ensure safety of schoolchildren. Service of school resource officers implemented in the frames of “Safe School program” reduced criminal at schools.  In the school reduced crime facts. Based on the research, which was held by the European Union: 75% of people believe that schools are safe. It’s a very high result. Two years ago this safety rate was only 8%. An in addition to this in the schools violence reduced to 97%, vandalism incidents with 97%, Tobacco use – 73% and so on. These results credit the outstanding job of school resource officers. It’s very important, that this year resource officers are fully integrated in the educational process and are part of school.”

“As we know, Executive Director and other representatives of National Association of School Resource Officers of the USA are paying a visit to Georgia. What’s the aim of the visit?”

“Yes, we planned meeting. National Association of School Resource Officers of the USA (NASRO) is one of the successful in the world. It’s very important for the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia to cooperate with them, exchange the experience and so on.”

“Mr. Dimitri, what your plans for next year pertaining the service of school resource officers, an in regards to??”

“Service of the Resource Officers operates in the capital city of Georgia and in the schools of other large cities. From January 1, 2012 resource officers will be in all regions of Georgia Medium size cities (Gurjaani, Telavi, Sagarejo and etc.). From next week will start video installation in every school, where will be Resource Officers.”

“How many resource officers are in the schools and what is the selection process?”

“Today we have 1400 resource officers. The following number is enough for our schools. They are undergoing trainings at the Police Academy. In regards to the selection process, candidates pass exams in general ability; the next stage is to take test in psychologists and get interviewed by the members of the commission. After successful completion of the following stages, candidates undergo special training courses at the Police Academy and then receive uniform of resource officers.”

“I will be interesting for the society to learn that resource officers are constantly trained in different directions.”

“Yes, it’s very important for their professional growth. Resource Officers take various courses, including rescue and psychology courses, which are necessary when working with children. The goal of the resource officer is to take care of school, children, teachers and other people employed at school.  Resource Officers should be able to provide all kinds of assistance to children, such as earthquake or fire. All Resource Officers are trained in violations, professional ethic, special educational needs and relations with children, who are victims of violence.  They also take computer and English language courses.”

“After electronic strategy was introduced in the educational system, new electronic system was applied by school resource officers as well. What are the outstanding characteristics of this system?”

“The new system is very important for school resource officers, which gives us opportunity to watch online events held at the school – will it be conflicts between schoolchildren or violations of any kind.  If a child repeats the same crime, we must involve psychologist, inspector and etc. It’s especially important, that with a help of electronic system we have unique opportunity to work on crime prevention. Unlike American resource officers, our resource officers don’t carry weapons and are focused on crime prevention, not punishment. In addition to this, with help of special information system School resource officers are presented with great opportunity to manage, office documentation electronically.”

One of the component of “Safe Schools” is   a service of a school resource officer. Statistics show that School safety is almost guaranteed and is based on discipline, which must be accompanied to the training process.