Toy gun, knives unearthed during search at ECD schools
The Guyana Police Force conducted an operation on Thursday at several secondary schools on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) which led to the discovery of a number of weapons including a toy gun.
The potential weapons that were found at the schools
Police said during their search, scissors, screwdrivers, knives, and a toy gun were found in the bags of students. The search was conducted in the presence of teachers and welfare officers.
The operations were conducted at the Lancaster Secondary, Bladen Hall Multilateral Secondary, Buxton Practical Instructional Centre, Annandale Secondary, Buxton Secondary, Plaisance Secondary, Beterverwagting Secondary, La Bonne Intention Secondary, Ann’s Grove Secondary, St Cuthbert’s Mission Secondary, Hope Secondary, Golden Grove Secondary, and President’s College.
Meanwhile, in addition to the searches, lectures were also conducted.
The topics discussed were violence and crime committed at schools, gang fighting, taking offensive weapons to school, the consequences of using offensive weapons at school, being on the streets after school, and respect for teachers.
This search comes on the heels of the recent gun discovery and other instances of violence in several educational facilities.
Just recently at the Lodge Secondary School, teachers downed tools in protest against intimidation and threats by students suspected to belong to gangs.
Deputy Head Master of the school, Khemraj Sawh had told the media that over the last month students have constantly been making threats to teachers and students. They were even some reported cases of abuse.
Following the reported cases of violence in the schools, the Education Ministry said that they will be taking a holistic approach to address the situation on a long-term basis.
The approach is expected to have the involvement of the Guyana Police Force, including the Community Policing Groups, as well as religious leaders in the respective communities.
Minister of the Education Ministry Priya Manickchand in responding to the situation, related that while students need to be educated, any unruly behaviour which affects teachers and other students will not be accepted.
