Students at the Chaguanas North Secondary School were searched on arrival at the compound yesterday morning in light of the recent planned gun attack made against members of staff.
On Friday, a plan to execute members of staff, which included a teacher and security guard, was thwarted after authorities received information.
School was dismissed early that day and members of the Defence Force took up posts at the school to assist.
Bags were checked manually and the students were checked with scanners for any possible weapons.
Six estate constables from the MTS took up duty at the front of the compound with police officers regularly crossing the compound.
The usual complement of security officers is between two and three, the T&T Guardian learned.
When the T&T Guardian visited the school, several of the students were making loud animal noises and walking in classes and around the compound.
Other students were playing football on the west side of the compound.
One teacher said, “What do you expect when they are not being supervised?”
He said it was frightening to hear of the plan to have a gun attack on the school.
“I was afraid when I heard it was happening last week but I came early today knowing it have security,” he said.
Security officers at the school were pleasant but kept a watchful eye on the property.
Yesterday, staff members which included some 150 teachers, the school supervisor, MTS supervisors and the Chaguanas police held a meeting to discuss alternatives and options.
Several teachers left the compound before lunch, driving quickly off of the premises.
Police officers visited the compound to check on their colleagues who were in the meeting.
In an interview outside the school several students claimed they did not know of the plan but were afraid.
“It have a lot of security and police. I was a little afraid about the guns. I don’t interact much with the students but there is guns there, I heard about it,” one of the female students said.
Another student said, “It makes no difference because it is just words and nothing happened.”
“I am afraid of what I heard in the media,” another female student said.
Other students refused to comment on the issue, taking their time and waiting for transportation.
Nonetheless, neighbours claimed that the students usually terrorised pedestrians and people living in the community.
Roxanne Craig, one of the residents from Enterprise, said parents needed to take a stand against the problem.
“Parents should come together and bring attention to this situation in the school. It has been long ongoing and there was always an issue,” she said.
Craig said the students go into a nearby fast food outlet and create havoc on the premises. She said they throw garbage on the ground and cause problems.
“It is a like a big confusion and the students are totally lawless. People don’t want to pass with them there. They walking in front of your car and not moving and have an attitude. You have to pass around or go before they come out,” she said.
She said that the few students who are indisciplined are the ones causing the problems.
“It is bad and the teachers are afraid and don’t want to say. It need police in the evening to come here and send them home,” she said.
Craig said the cameras on the school compound don’t serve any purpose.
“Because the school is really large and they destroying the cameras.”
Stanley Fader, another resident, said the students were a big problem to the community.
Fader said he has lived in the area 55 years, even before the school was built.
“What! These stupid children. I see a girl not even 18 years old ‘chook’ (stab) another boy while they was in the school uniform. Then she mother come and take up the bottle too,” he said.
“They even having sex in the school toilet. I can’t believe it. They even thieving my orange and grapefruit,” he said.
The school’s supervisor and the principal refused to comment yesterday, referring all questions to the Communications Unit of the Ministry of Education.