Violent students may be referred to police
Stabroek News
March 20, 2004
The Ministry of Education may begin giving police the names of students from the Lodge Community High School (LCHS) who are found to be violent.
This is one option to address the concerns of teachers says Minister, Dr Henry Jeffrey who says police may not be able to have a presence all day at the school.
The placement of special constables and security guards at the school is also being considered.
The Government Informa-tion Agency (GINA) quoted Jeffrey as saying, "Security of our employees should be a major concern to all of us and we are looking at a comprehensive approach to problematic areas such as this."
He was referring to the situation at the LCHS where a student struck a teacher on his head.
This has led to protest action by the teachers.
Jeffrey said that indiscipline problems would be reduced if the manual for discipline in schools was properly implemented.
The manual states that corporal punishment should be a last resort in disciplining a student and that students may be suspended.
He said that he understands that suspension was done in the case of Lodge but no recommendation was made for expulsion. He pointed out that the situation could have been ironed out using the manual.
He expressed some disappointment at the ongoing protest, which was not approved by the head of the school, adding that he had met with teachers and parents on several occasions.
Referring to comments by the Guyana Teachers' Union (GTU) that the education system has failed students, Jeffrey pointed out that students are with their families 92 per cent of the time and only eight per cent of the time in school.