Addressing Violence in Jamaican Schools: An Alternative Intervention Framework

Abstract

Violence in Jamaican schools has become a persistent social and educational challenge that undermines academic achievement, student well-being, and national development. This study examines alternative, evidence-based interventions that move beyond punitive disciplinary models towards holistic, restorative, and preventative frameworks. It integrates sociological, psychological, and educational perspectives to evaluate existing approaches and propose an enhanced multi-layered intervention model. The current study employs comparative analysis of Jamaican initiatives alongside international best practices in school safety and behavioural transformation. Key findings suggest that fragmented policy implementation, limited psychosocial support, and over-reliance on security measures reduce the effectiveness of current strategies. Thisstudy argues that sustainable reduction in school violence requires systemic reform grounded in restorative justice, early intervention, and community-school integration. Ultimately, the proposed framework offers a comprehensive alternative for reducing school violence in Jamaica through coordinated institutional, familial, and community action.