Parents and teachers will meet at regional town meetings to discuss the Island's gangs and violence problems, Education Minister Randolph Horton revealed yesterday.

Mr. Horton told the House of Assembly he would also work with schools to set up round table meetings to open communication with students on the issue.

He said joint Parent Teacher Association meetings would take place to "bring the school family together", while school clusters will have regional get-togethers to help the community tackle challenges with young people.

"The Ministry must move with deliberate strides instituting Ministry-wide initiatives that encourage resistance to gangs, violent prevention, conflict suppression and resolution, mentoring and cultural awareness," said the Minister.

"We know that if the Ministry's principals, teachers and support staff commit to tackling these anti-social challenges they will be joining a Government that has both recommitted and redoubled its efforts to finding meaningful solutions through cross-Ministry initiatives and a Ministry administration that is working to review and strengthen activities and programmes that already exist in our Ministry such as life skill and character education.

"I call on communities — principals, teachers, parents, businesses, health and social service providers, arts professionals, recreation leaders, churches and all of my colleagues in Government and in this Honourable House — to join me in forging a new compact with our young people to ensure their whole and healthy development in a safe environment. I am now asking our communities to redefine learning to focus on the whole person.

"Recent events dictate today that I ask that all of us in our schools and communities lay aside all our resources and energies in support of the whole child."

Mr. Horton also said a five-year plan was currently being put together through the Interim Executive Board.

Long-term aims include the creation of a system based on innovation, transparency, accountability and equity; and a broader commitment to getting contributions from parents, businesses and the community.

The plan will involve the review of the recommendations of the Hopkins report and principles of large-scale reform from other successful systems.

The Minister concluded: "I encourage all of us, if we dare to care, to stand up and be responsive, respectable adult that our children turn to and know that together no obstacle is too great. Let's ensure we have schools where teachers teach and students learn."