Torit secondary school students learn to prevent crime

27 Feb 2015

Torit secondary school students learn to prevent crime

26 February 2015 - UN Police (UNPOL) and partners today held a crime prevention awareness session at a secondary school in the Eastern Equatoria capital Torit.

The four-hour interactive session, held in collaboration with the UN Development Programme and South Sudan police, was attended by 300 students and 33 teaching staff of Torit Day Secondary School.

UN Police Officer Teddy Kargbo introduced the word “crime” and its prevention. He also warned students to avoid criminal practices like rape, theft and raiding as well as conditions like early pregnancy that can lead to school dropout.

“I want to assure you that in all your aspirations to become good leaders in the future, the only solution is to know what a crime is, who the criminals are and avoid associating with them,” Mr. Kargbo said.

“Public dis-order, unlawful assembly, and crimes against property (theft, trespassing, miss-appropriation and forgery) are the three areas of crimes that you should avoid,” he said.

He added that South Sudan National Police Service officers would leave their telephone contacts with the school administration, so that students could report criminal activities in and outside the school.

School head prefect Emmanuel Odong, said “I appreciate UN Police for making me understand that police are friends to a moral society and with the help of police crimes are reduced, if not completely prevented.”

Deputy School Officer Imoya Givnaly said she saw the interactive exercise as a positive means of reducing the high rate of girls dropping out of school.

“Last year, we had 15 girls who dropped out of school due to early pregnancy,” she said. “I hope that this programme will educate and change both boys and girls.”