11-year-old Strathspey Primary student dies from fractured skull

– after sustaining injuries during altercation at school

Mark Harrypaul, an 11-year-old student who died following an altercation at the Strathspey Primary School, suffered from head injuries and a fractured skull, an autopsy confirmed on Wednesday.
The incident occurred at about 15:00h on Monday at the Strathspey Primary School, which Harrypaul attended. This publication understands that a 14-year-old student who attends the Buxton Secondary School was loitering at the Strathspey Primary School when the fatal incident unfolded.
He reportedly slammed the school’s gate into the deceased child’s head, resulting in that child sustaining serious injuries.
Reports are that the teen had snatched Harrypaul’s rag and run away, prompting the child to run after him to retrieve his personal item. However, the teenager responded by slamming the gate into Harrypaul, thus causing him to receive a cut to the left side of his head.

The injury was dressed at school, and the child was sent home by the headteacher. However, when Harrypaul arrived at home, he relayed what happened and cried out in pain. He was given painkillers and retired to bed.
Later in the evening, his parents went to check on him, and realized that his condition had worsened. They then decided to rush him to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where, upon arriving, he had already become non-responsive despite efforts to resuscitate him. Doctors later pronounced him dead.
This publication understands that a report has been filed at the Vigilance Police Station, and statements have been taken from family members. Efforts made by Guyana Times to contact the Education Ministry have proved futile.
The Education Ministry has, in recent months, reiterated its disapproval of any form of violence within schools, and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that students can learn in a safe and conducive environment. This was in light of recent incidents involving students, teachers and parents.
The Ministry had declared that it would take all appropriate actions to ensure that all teachers continue to work in a safe and secure environment. Such actions include prohibiting violent parents or guardians from having access to school premises, transferring out of a school any learner whose parents commit acts of violence on teachers, or any other sanction deemed necessary; while encouraging the Police or any other institution or authority to take whatever action the law prescribes.