Home Top Stories School violence: Guyana “will have to have a relook at our Juvenile...
Education Minister Priya Manickchand has signalled that Guyana’s Juvenile Offenders Act may have to be reviewed in an effort to find a balance between providing an education for each child and addressing the hike in violence in schools.
Appearing on the “Livewire” programme on Thursday, the Education Minister stressed that the issue of violence intensifying in schools is one with which the authorities continue to struggle. She declared there is a strong stance in schools against bullying, both physically and emotionally, and matters of bullying are thoroughly investigated; and she disclosed, “We have decided that, in walking the fine line of trying to educate each child, we can’t let any single child disrupt an entire school, or harm other children, hurt or bully them. A full investigation or inquiry is usually taken, and we may have to suspend and expel in those circumstances.
“We’re trying very hard to make sure that we have sessions with all the students…and the country will have to have a relook at our Juvenile Offenders Bill,” she expressed.
The Education Minister said the former Government had dissolved the New Opportunity Corps (NOC), a facility for juvenile offenders, in which they were given a chance to complete their education. With this facility no longer being functional, the only option is to expel such students; but this, she said, is not a constructive solution.
“At this point, all we could do is expel without any options for further education, and that is not the most desirable place to be. So, the country has to look back at how we’re going to deal with what is clearly a problem. It is not a problem here in Guyana alone, but this is something most countries around the world face. We also have to look in the homes (at) what we say to our children,” she explained.
Another issue which has attracted attention from the MoE is lateness and absenteeism. The Minister said efforts have been made on the part of Government, through the breakfast programme, to make it easier for children to show up at school. Indicating that neither lateness nor absenteeism is a fault of the MoE, Manickchand opined that these situations must be looked into at the level of the household.
“Those kids are being offered breakfast, all they (parents/guardians) had to do was get up and make sure that they put on their clothes, comb their hair and send them to school. What is the home’s duty and responsibility and role in building out a Guyana where all our children have an opportunity and access to education? There has to be a careful examination of that also,” she reasoned.
Following a spate of violence in schools last year, in which were involved students, teachers and parents, the MoE 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 school any learner whose parents commit acts of violence on any teacher; or any other sanction deemed necessary. The Police or any other institution or authority would also be encouraged to take whatever action the law prescribes. (G12)
