❓ A parliamentary question addresses the Minister for Education regarding weapons-related incidents in schools. The Minister's response clarifies data discrepancies and outlines strategies to reduce weapons in public schools, emphasizing data collection and monitoring.
AnsweredQoN 4095Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Given that Western Australia Police advise that the number of weapons-related incidents in schools and other educational facilities this year has already exceeded the total number of weapons offences for last year, how can the Minister claim that her policies aimed at reducing violence in schools are working?
(2) What strategies does the Minister have to reduce the presence of weapons in schools?
(3) Given the in excess of 40 weapons incidents in schools, as reported to Police this year, represents more than one a week, what responsibility or actions will the Minister take with respect to this increase?
(2) What strategies does the Minister have to reduce the presence of weapons in schools?
(3) Given the in excess of 40 weapons incidents in schools, as reported to Police this year, represents more than one a week, what responsibility or actions will the Minister take with respect to this increase?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 November 2010
Responded by
Minister for Education
Response time
47 days
(1) Please note that Western Australian Police data includes incidents in public, independent and Catholic schools, training institutions and universities and does not reflect the situation in public schools. The Department monitors its effectiveness through data collected from public schools.
The Department commenced collecting specific data regarding incidents involving prohibited and controlled weapons following the CEO Instruction dated 29 March 2010. The Department monitors incident data on a daily basis. The Department's Schools Safety Liaison Officer (seconded Police Sergeant) ensures that all serious incidents are followed up. District education offices also monitor incidents and provide support and advice to schools.
The Department is now collecting and analysing this important data and trends will become evident over time.
(2) The Department has in place a range of strategies to reduce the presence of weapons in schools that include:
· The
Keeping Our Workplace Safe
resource and associated professional learning supports principals to develop strategies to prevent the presence of weapons in schools and/or effectively manage the situation should a weapon be found on a school site.
·A CEO Instruction issued on 29 March 2010 by the Director General regarding weapons in schools stated that principals must report all incidents that involve a prohibited or controlled weapon to the Western Australian Police and to the Department through the Online Incident Notification system.
· The Department's Schools Safety Liaison Officer monitors incident reports from both the Western Australian Police and the Department and provides immediate follow up support to all public schools who report a prohibited or controlled weapon.
· Schools promote positive student behaviour through their behaviour management policies and procedures and many schools implement a range of strategies as part of a whole school approach to values education.
· Teachers reinforce positive behaviour through teaching and reinforcing the values described in the
Curriculum Framework including the pursuit of knowledge and a commitment to achievement of potential, self acceptance and respect of self, respect and concern for others and their rights, social and civic responsibility and environmental responsibility.
(3) The figure cited by the Member includes data in public, independent and Catholic, training institutions and universities. It is therefore inaccurate for the Member to hold that there were in excess of 40 incidents involving weapons in public schools.
The Department's data indicates that, as at 25 October 2010, there have been 17 incidents reported by public schools through the Online Incident Notification system regarding prohibited or controlled weapons since the CEO Instruction was issued on 29 March 2010. The Department will maintain the current strategies to reduce weapons in public schools and continue to monitor data.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
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The Department commenced collecting specific data regarding incidents involving prohibited and controlled weapons following the CEO Instruction dated 29 March 2010. The Department monitors incident data on a daily basis. The Department's Schools Safety Liaison Officer (seconded Police Sergeant) ensures that all serious incidents are followed up. District education offices also monitor incidents and provide support and advice to schools.
The Department is now collecting and analysing this important data and trends will become evident over time.
(2) The Department has in place a range of strategies to reduce the presence of weapons in schools that include:
· The
Keeping Our Workplace Safe
resource and associated professional learning supports principals to develop strategies to prevent the presence of weapons in schools and/or effectively manage the situation should a weapon be found on a school site.
·A CEO Instruction issued on 29 March 2010 by the Director General regarding weapons in schools stated that principals must report all incidents that involve a prohibited or controlled weapon to the Western Australian Police and to the Department through the Online Incident Notification system.
· The Department's Schools Safety Liaison Officer monitors incident reports from both the Western Australian Police and the Department and provides immediate follow up support to all public schools who report a prohibited or controlled weapon.
· Schools promote positive student behaviour through their behaviour management policies and procedures and many schools implement a range of strategies as part of a whole school approach to values education.
· Teachers reinforce positive behaviour through teaching and reinforcing the values described in the
Curriculum Framework including the pursuit of knowledge and a commitment to achievement of potential, self acceptance and respect of self, respect and concern for others and their rights, social and civic responsibility and environmental responsibility.
(3) The figure cited by the Member includes data in public, independent and Catholic, training institutions and universities. It is therefore inaccurate for the Member to hold that there were in excess of 40 incidents involving weapons in public schools.
The Department's data indicates that, as at 25 October 2010, there have been 17 incidents reported by public schools through the Online Incident Notification system regarding prohibited or controlled weapons since the CEO Instruction was issued on 29 March 2010. The Department will maintain the current strategies to reduce weapons in public schools and continue to monitor data.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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