College Joins Fight Against Crime
Labasa Muslim College on Thursday joined the war against crime by joining the Scholastic Crime Stoppers Programme.
By joining the programme, the college is encouraging students to watch out and help each other make their school a safer and more enjoyable place to learn, work and visit.
Chief guest and Police Chief Operations Officer Acting ACP Maretino Qiolevu, told the launching which attracted 12 students and four teachers who were inducted as board members for their school that they were not alone.
“This programme is linked to the major crime prevention programme,” Acting ACP Qiolevu said.
“You are part and parcel of the big crime prevention programme.”
To the 252 students from Year Nine to 13, he said: “If you hear or see any wrong doings please do not hesitate to involve yourself in preventing and stopping the criminal activities in schools or around you.
“Therefore, if you tip us then we will tip you because crime doesn’t pay but we do.
“The teachers and law enforcement officers cannot be everywhere at all times.
“That is why we need students to take an active role in reporting crime because they know their peers better than anyone.’’
The implementation of programmes like this is less expensive and the best strategy in fighting crime.
It involves students and teachers.
So far 122 secondary schools in Fiji have launched this programme.
Meanwhile, the national co-ordinator for Crime Stoppers Fiji, Inspector Sainimili Turaga, said the programme vision is to create safer and crime-free learning environments in schools.
It’s mission is to promote a safer environment to live, study and work in and most importantly to prevent students from getting involved in criminal activities.
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- Police Chief Operations Officer, Acting ACP Maretino Qiolevu (right) hands over a certificate of membership to the Labasa Muslim College principal, Safiq Ahmed, in Labasa on March 8. Photo: Shratika Naidu
The programme is divided into three phases:
- First phase: awareness conducted to all teachers and students about the program proper
- second phase: is a workshop conducted for students who will be selected by the principal to run this programme in a particular school
- Third phase: the official launching of the programme
Inspector Turaga said: “As scholastic board members, you have been chosen and given other roles to hold.
“This programme maybe totally new but most of all it reflects on how to handle discipline among students in your school.
“The implementation phases of the programme may not augur well with the student’s reception.
“Criticism shall also be expected as it is how good things begin.
“Positive results would certainly materialise later.”
Edited by George Kulamaiwasa
Feedback: shratikan@fijisun.com.fj
