MoE hosts 1st public consultation on Anti-Violence and Anti-Bullying Policy for schools

The Ministry of Education (MoE) has officially launched its first public consultation on the national Anti-Violence and Anti-Bullying Policy for Schools, marking a major step toward creating safer and more inclusive classrooms across Guyana.
The event, held at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Saturday, brought together educators, students, parents, law enforcement officials, and community leaders to discuss solutions to combat violence and bullying within the education system.

The consultation is part of the MoE’s broader initiative to implement a comprehensive national policy that promotes zero tolerance for violence and bullying in schools. The policy will include mechanisms for investigation, disciplinary action, and awareness campaigns, ensuring that every stakeholder plays a role in building a culture of respect and protection for students.
Speaking on the side-lines of the event, Minister of Education Sonia Parag underscored the significance of the consultation as the beginning of a national dialogue.
“I think it’s a very significant event, and this is to get the ball rolling on the conversation on bullying and violence in schools especially. This can transcend sectors and communities, and we want it to be a national event that will get different sections of society speaking, giving their suggestions, and being an active part of coming up with policies and, at some point, legislation in relation to bullying,” Minister Parag said.
She emphasised that the response from the public – both in person and online – reflects the urgency and importance of the issue.

“All the stakeholders that are coming into the convention today, it shows the value placed on this initiative. We are seeing a number of persons on the virtual link as well, which tells you the importance being placed on this initiative. Moving forward, you will see more of this coming out,” she added.
Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs Oneidge Walrond also shared remarks, highlighting the need for empathy, understanding, and appropriate interventions for both victims and perpetrators of bullying.
“Obviously, the topic and subject matter is not a pleasurable one, but it’s good to hear from people who have experienced bullying – our teachers, parents, and community leaders. It’s always good to understand how people are feeling, their perspectives, so that we can properly shape an anti-bullying policy that is fit for purpose,” Minister Walrond stated.
She explained that cases of bullying, especially those involving students who feel unsafe, are treated as public security issues under the Ministry of Home Affairs. While acknowledging that most perpetrators are themselves minors, she emphasised a rehabilitative approach rather than purely punitive measures.
“The interventions we make should, as much as possible, be rehabilitative. These are minors, and we try to put different programmes and measures apart from incarceration or charging. However, there are some cases so aggravated that such action becomes necessary,” she said.
On the other hand, Minister of Human Services and Social Security Dr Vindhya Persaud underscored the need for continuous engagement with students and other stakeholders, including teachers.
“Excellent initiative, and it’s one that we will fulsomely support through the human services ministry because I have always believed that if you have a structured, coordinated, and collective approach to very serious issues like violence and bullying, you will have more impactful reach, more successes, and you will be able to have the kind of interventions that take into account the wide nature of bullying and violence. So I’m happy to be here, happy to be a partner in this.”
“I want to say bullying is something that happens to many people. You can be young; you can be an adult. But it is not something that you should see as you are struggling your battle alone. There’s a whole support ecosystem out there that is there to help you, to help you to understand maybe why this happens, but also to help you to find confidence and to find the tools to cooperate, to deal with it and to triumph. Because when someone is bullied, it has lasting scars. They hurt, and sometimes those cars are carried all the way into adulthood. Sometimes they become bullies. So what we’re doing here today is directly going to impact you,” the Minister noted.
The Ministry’s new policy represents a nationwide effort to address rising concerns over school-based violence and bullying. The consultation provided an opportunity for participants to share their experiences and recommendations, ensuring that the final policy reflects the realities on the ground.
As the Ministry continues its consultations across the country, the initiative is expected to culminate in a finalised Anti-Violence and Anti-Bullying Policy backed by strong legislative and institutional support.
The Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that every child in Guyana can learn in a safe, supportive, and respectful environment – a goal that will require collaboration across all sectors of society.