TEACHERS have called for tighter security in schools to protect children from dangerous intruders. In a report compiled by staff at the Ikeda elementary school, where eight children were fatally stabbed and 13 students and 2 teachers wounded last summer, they said they also wanted better training to deal with such incidents.

The lack of protection was highlighted last June when a 37-year-old man, soon to stand trial, stormed the school in Osaka with a kitchen knife and went on a killing rampage for 20 minutes in four different classrooms before he was subdued by the police. The report paints a picture of horror and confusion as teachers struggled to evacuate children but left others to their fate.

“We had no manuals or training to fall back on, so teachers were forced to make individual, on-the-spot decisions,” said one teacher. Another spoke of regret at leaving her wards to phone the police and her frustration at not being able to tackle the attacker.

“He had wild eyes and attacked three children as soon as he entered the room,” she stated in the report, which was written for the education ministry. “I screamed and realised I couldn’t possibly overcome him. I think I shouted to the children to run, but my voice failed me.”

Other teachers complained that they lacked training for such an episode and that there were no contingency plans in place despite a spate of intrusions into schools in previous months. As a result of the massacre, the government is now reviewing school security and may introduce some American-style defence measures such as security guards and specially reinforced glass that can prevent break-ins.

However, as Professor Michio Nitta, education expert at Tokyo University, points out, little has been done so far to change the status quo of Japan’s “open door” schools. “As there has been little public pressure on this issue I cannot see there being much change here in the near future,” he said.

Some government officials have called on teachers to take on the role of security staff but teacher unions are opposed to such plans. Others have suggested that teachers would have to be paid more to take on security duties. However, Japan’s deepening recession makes it unlikely that there will be sufficient funds from local government to meet the requirements of any strengthened security.

Private schools are considering contracting security guard companies to patrol their grounds. “But with state schools the problem is money,” said Professor Nitta. “The Tokyo metropolitan government, for example, is cutting back everything due to the financial crisis.”