With the current climate of underlying tension, spiking regularly into outright panic, as children become the latest group of the defenceless to be targeted by unbelievably cruel criminals among us, we have to balance students' security and their education. For while we certainly do not wish to leave the slightest loophole through which a child can be snatched intransit, between school and home, we do not wish to enhance the climate of fear.

So we appreciate the advisory that the Ministry of Education has issued to parents and communities and which was printed on The Gleaner's front page yesterday; but we are also aware that no child can learn if they have to be continuously on the lookout for potential kidnappers.

And while many of the ministry's tips are a mixture of common sense (such as 'teach your children the main roads and tell them to use these roads instead of shortcuts') and advice on equipment ('give your children something that makes a loud piercing noise and tell them when to use it') as well as specific training ('teach your children basic self-defence techniques'), there is a situation which we would like to see addressed.

captive market

For too long many of our schools, especially at the primary level, have become a guaranteed, captive market for vendors who crowd their gates, offering snacks, toys and anything else which may tickle a youngster's fancy. And while we appreciate that some of those vendors may actually make very effective lookouts, as they are familiar with students as well as parents and guardians, we also realise that their wares can attract a bundle of students that makes for relatively easy pickings. In addition, the presence of a number of vendors at a school's gate makes it easier for surreptitious surveillance to take place.

It is, of course, a ticklish situation as in many areas the schools must negotiate a shaky truce with the immediate community around it, tacitly acknowledging the illegality of vending outside the school's gates, while at the same time understanding that the school is better off not seen as an alien, hostile entity.

We believe that, even without the current, distressing wave of kidnappings, instruction is best given and received in an atmosphere free from distraction; and vendors are distracting despite seeing themselves as providing a service.

safe zone

So while we are certainly not blaming school-gate vendors for the kidnappings which are driving fear into parents, teachers and students, we believe in creating a safe zone for students. So it is high time their presence be addressed.

A decision has to me made to reject or regularise, once and for all.

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