Newspaper: “24 Hours” pages 1-4

“The Security Guard at School”

Author – Inga Alavidze

The security Guards will maintain order and ensure the safety of the children at Tbilisi public schools. Two men and one woman will support to maintain order, prevent conflicts and provide the schoolchildren with any kind of aid. The Minister of Education and Science, Dimitri Shashkini and the Rector of the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Khatuna Dekanoidze introduced the Guards to the teachers, schoolchildren and their parents.

The pilot project of the Guards is being launched in Tbilisi 7 public schools. The Guards, equipped with the special uniforms entered the following schools: the first experimental, and the public schools #11, #23, #24, #51, #52 and #117. They have already begun to implement their duties.

They were introduced to the schoolchildren yesterday – the environment was quite joyful. The children met the people, associated with the order and strictness respectfully. Then they accepted the Guards friendly behavior. The first meeting was held successfully.

“I think they are kind. We are not afraid of them. Nobody told us, we have to be afraid of the Guards. They met us friendly. They presented me with the souvenir – little Georgian flag, I am very happy. The conflict often occurs at schools. Almost all boys take the knives at school. The conflict may begin for different reasons - If they don’t like your look, or don’t like the phrase. The video cameras, set up in the toilets is very good, because the toilets are now the smoking places. The boys stand and smoke there every time. But they smoke in the corridors too – what’s the problem?!” – announced one schoolchild. As it turned out, the schools have their own “supervisors”.  They begin or finish the conflicts together with their friends.

The schools without criminal problems still exist but the schoolchildren consider the Guards are necessary for them too to maintain order.

“The teachers said yesterday, the Guards will maintain order at schools. Almost all children reacted negatively on it – is it the prison or the school? – They asked immediately. But I think this is the good project,” – announced the 10^th grader of public school #21, Tamara Ratishvili.

“Only juniors study at this school and therefore, no conflicts happen here. Such incidents happen in the near school  - the school for elder children. Are they going to set the video camera in toilets? I think this is not right. But the Guards are necessary at schools to better maintain the order. We will become mobilized as well,” – said the sister of Tamar Ratishvili, Ana Ratishvili. She thinks, she will continue studying at the school, secured by the Guards.

The Guards were trained in the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs – they  developed the practical skills, took the psychological and theoretical courses during the two weeks. The responsibility of the Guards is to care for the security of the children. They have no right of punishment. The Guard is obliged to evaluate the conflict and ask the school principle for the reaction, if it is necessary. If the situation is strained, the Guards can inform parents and the Ministry of Education and Science. In the extreme case, they have the right to call the police. The school Guards will be located in the rooms, equipped with the informational technologies. They will observe the outward and the internal perimeter through the cameras, set up throughout the whole school. They will be equipped with the uniforms and the modern communicational technologies.  The goal of the new initiative of the Ministry is to ensure the safety of the children during the educational process.

“Establishing the Guard institute at schools is important for every parent. I will feel calmer in the situation, when I hear about the crime and murder at schools. Establishing the Guard institute at schools will support the children to develop the state views – they will know, the rule exists in the country and they have to follow it from the early ages”  - parents express  these opinions.