School security must be priority for the ministry

e are merely in the third week of the 2024 Michaelmas term and some very unfortunate events involving our schoolchildren have occurred. We frown heavily on and condemn the recent spate of violence on school grounds and among children in uniform.

 

There is no need to engage the expertise of a criminologist or psychologist to find out that what is currently happening in our schools mirrors what we are seeing in society.

 

Sadly, schools with otherwise good reputations have been making headlines in the media due to the negative actions of a few. Those who choose to be deviant, at both primary and secondary levels, are the culprits brandishing weapons.

 

And here we are, facing the grave challenge of six separate incidents involving students. These telling and unfortunate events cannot be willed or wished away but must be dealt with in the firmest way to send a message to other would-be offenders.

 

The saga started two Mondays ago when two 15-year-old Alexandra School boys were in a fight that led to one being stabbed. The following Friday, classes were dismissed early at Graydon Sealy Secondary after two students were in an after-school altercation and one was stabbed.

 

Last Monday, a pupil at St Catherine’s Primary School in St Philip pulled a knife on a fellow Class Four student. By the evening, there were reports that a fight involving students of Frederick Smith Secondary resulted in a student from the Alexandra School being slashed with a knife while travelling on a minibus.

 

On Wednesday, a student at Deighton Griffith Secondary took up a cutlass from the workshop at the school, reportedly to seek revenge against a schoolmate with whom he had a dispute earlier. Added to that, a parent entered the Hilda Skeene Primary School compound and threatened a teacher the week prior.

 

It was subsequently disclosed that teachers at the Alexandra School created and signed a petition to stop teaching a disruptive student. The teachers and even some students expressed worry and fear about the environment created by this student. Their cries and concerns are real, and we empathise with them and others who are operating in this reality.

 

The school system appears to be under siege. This is not normal in our Barbadian society. These are stories we read about in other countries; certainly not in Bim, the land we love.

 

These worrisome events have taken up prime time on local media, both traditional and social, because we are all concerned. We feel the pain in the pleas of teachers, students and parents in these ordeals.

 

Speaking on the school violence, President of the Barbados Union of Teachers Rudy Lovell expressed dismay and called on the Ministry of Education to address the issue urgently.

 

He said: “In recent months, the rise in violence within our schools has reached a critical tipping point. Teachers should not have to choose between getting a pay cheque and ensuring their safety. These are not isolated incidents but indicators of a deep-rooted crisis in our educational system – one that threatens the safety and well-being of our students and teachers . . . . The escalating violence cannot be ignored, and it demands immediate and decisive action.”

 

Children’s rights advocate and Democratic Labour Party spokesperson on education Felicia Dujon has also called on the ministry to put safety first.

 

“We cannot allow violence in our schools to become normalised. We must prioritise the safety, mental health, and emotional well-being of our students and educators. I call on the Ministry of Education and all relevant stakeholders to act swiftly in implementing these measures. Our schools should be safe spaces for learning, and every effort must be made to protect those who attend them,” she said.

 

Lovell and Dujon both offered solid suggestions.

The BUT head said “enhanced security measures, greater mental health support for students, and clear, enforceable disciplinary actions must be part of the solution.”

 

“Together, we can reclaim our schools as places of learning, respect, and hope,” he said.

And Dujon outlined a comprehensive “safer schools policy”.

 

Among her recommendations were: “Schools should implement a real-time electronic alert system to inform parents and guardians immediately when an emergency occurs. A simple text message system could ensure that all parents are promptly notified, allowing them to take the necessary steps to protect and support their children.”

 

While we acknowledge that school violence reflects the happenings in society, the Ministry of Education must provide safe and healthy institutions for our nation’s children. That is why when there are environmental and other issues impeding the teaching process, the BUT and other unions take a firm stance.

 

Safety at school is a right that should be afforded to all students, teachers and ancillary staff. The ministry must ensure that everything within its power is done so school plants are violence-free.

 

With reports from the BUT that approximately 20 out of the island’s 68 public primary schools do not have a dedicated security presence, the matter should be treated as priority. Call it a first step.

 

We agree that parents remain the first security checkpoint, but we are also well aware that a knife or any weapon can be bought or obtained without the parent’s knowledge – and away from home.

 

So no, the ministry cannot be blamed if a child leaves his or her home with a weapon. However, the moment that student makes their way onto the school premises to cause harm and terrorise those present, the ministry becomes culpable.

 

Therefore, neither the ministry nor the schools’ management can throw their hands in the air and blame the societal crime crisis. Actions must be taken to safeguard the places where students aged three to 17 congregate daily. Likewise, under our health and safety laws, teachers have a reasonable expectation and a right to work in a safe environment.