MoE intensifies anti-bullying campaign in Reg 2

…Bullying is everybody’s responsibility” – Dr Tularam

The Education Ministry has intensified its national anti-bullying and anti-violence campaign by engaging parents, teachers, and students of Aurora and Abram Zuil Secondary Schools in Region Two (Pomeroon–Supenaam) with the aim of stamping out bullying across schools and communities.
The outreach forms part of a broader initiative launched earlier this year at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, bringing together key ministries to address what officials describe as a growing social concern.

Leading the Region Two consultation was Deputy Chief Education Officer (Technical) Dr Ritesh Tularam, who emphasised that the campaign is not about speeches but rather about meaningful dialogue and actionable solutions.
Dr Tularam explained that while bullying is not new, its frequency and severity, particularly with the rise of social media, have become alarming. He noted that incidents circulating online often show students involved in violent confrontations in schools, on roadways, and in public spaces. In some cases, he said, the consequences have been tragic.
”Bullying is not something that blossomed yesterday. Bullying has always been there in our society. Even as adults, we’ve been bullied at some point in time. Today, we have recognised that every time we go on social media, or most of the time if not all of the time, and we open our social media page, be it Facebook or wherever, TikTok or what have you, we will see some video posted somewhere with some child involved in some issue in a school, on the road, or in the park,” he said.

He stressed that bullying must be addressed urgently and strategically, with strong systems in place to both safeguard victims and correct those who deliberately engage in harmful behaviour.
Importantly, he underscored that the responsibility does not rest solely with schools.
According to Dr Tularam, parents play a critical role in shaping children’s attitudes and behaviour. He expressed concern that some parents fail to monitor their children adequately, while others may even encourage confrontational responses.
He urged parents to be more vigilant – checking school bags, monitoring peer associations, and taking an active interest in their children’s daily routines. He also highlighted troubling patterns discussed during previous consultations, including students accessing alcohol and drugs, forming gangs, and bringing prohibited items to school.
Addressing these issues, he said, requires sustained collaboration with community groups, religious leaders, and law enforcement, rather than reactive measures only after incidents occur.
Dr Tularam further called for a restructuring of parent-teacher engagement, suggesting that traditional parent conferences be made more interactive and solution-driven rather than passive sessions where parents simply listen and leave. Schools, he noted, must create environments that actively engage both parents and students.
He also raised concerns about excessive cell-phone use and social media influence among students, pointing to international discussions on school phone bans. While acknowledging the digital age, he maintained that boundaries must be established to prevent distraction and cyberbullying.

”Bullying is everybody’s responsibility. Parents, teachers, and communities must work together immediately to safeguard our children and create schools where respect, discipline, and learning come first,” he said.
Meanwhile, the headteacher of Aurora Secondary School, Rabinauth Boodram, welcomed the initiative and called for stronger enforcement measures.
”Many times, bullying is reported, but the consequences do not match the severity of the evidence. It is not fair to the students who are truly bullied,” Boodram said.
He stressed that stricter disciplinary measures and consistent follow-through are necessary if schools are to effectively address the problem.
”If persons bear the consequences of their actions, I believe we will move faster to curb this, especially within our school system,” he added.
Students at the consultation also contributed practical suggestions. One student from Abram Zuil Secondary recommended the introduction of more clubs and extracurricular activities, including chess, sports, field trips, and structured group engagements to steer students away from gangs and substance abuse.
Another student emphasised the influence of the home environment and warned about the dangers of social media becoming an outlet for bullying and unrealistic expectations. The student called on adults to model responsible behaviour, noting that young people often imitate what they see.