Student strangled until unconscious at Friendship Secondary

A distressing incident that unfolded on Tuesday at the Friendship Secondary School on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD), when a student was strangled into unconsciousness with a rope during a school sports activity, has sparked widespread outrage and raised serious concerns about student safety within that school’s premises.
In an interview with this publication on Wednesday, the child’s father, Sheik Bacchus, expressed dismay that his 13-year-old son had been choked into unconsciousness. He said the teachers and fellow students seemed oblivious to the incident.
“Your child goes to school and comes home like this, and the teachers and students didn’t see how or who choked him with a rope until he fainted. He was standing under a shed with other students and teachers, and he said all he felt was something around his neck choking him,” Bacchus related.
“After he fainted, the school called his grandmother, who then informed me. They took him to Diamond Diagnostic Hospital. When I started to inquire, the students and teachers claimed they didn’t know. But I believe someone is hiding something or covering for somebody, because how can so many children and teachers be there and not notice a child being strangled?” he asked.
“They found the rope on the ground afterward…I believe it had to be a bigger student. He even told me he had no problem with anyone in the school,” this father related.
Guyana Times has learnt that the matter has been reported to the Education Ministry and the Child Protection Agency. The child’s parents told this publication that they are anxiously awaiting the results of the investigation, and are demanding swift action to identify the assailant and ensure the safety of all students.
This incident has triggered anger and demands for accountability within the school administration. Concerned parents are urging the school and relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation, take decisive action against the perpetrator, and implement stringent measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
Over the past few months, there has been a surge in school bullying incidents in Guyana. Recently, a 14-year-old male student of the Campbellville Secondary School was caught on camera being brutally attacked by another student from the same school. That attacker repeatedly kicked and stomped on the victim’s head and body in a display of violence.
Prior to this incident, a video was circulated on social media showing a female student of the same school being physically assaulted by her classmate on September 9, 2023.
In response, the Education Ministry issued a statement emphasizing that students found in breach of the Ministry of Education’s Policy on the Maintenance of Order and Discipline in schools would face sanctions, including expulsion, suspension, and mandatory psychosocial counselling.
“The Ministry of Education will not condone any form of violence in our schools. The Ministry remains committed to ensuring that students can be in a safe and conducive learning environment. Additionally, the Ministry will continue its sensitisation campaigns in schools on issues relating to bullying and other (undisciplined) behaviours,” the statement said. (G9)