School violence is escalating —The Ministry of Education must act now

DLP Spokesperson for Education Felicia Dujon issued the following statement in light of the rise in violence in schools.

Violence in our schools is spiraling out of control, and yet the Ministry of Education continues to downplay the severity of the crisis. Teachers are being attacked, students are living in fear, and learning environments are being disrupted. The Democratic Labour Party (DLP) is calling on the Minister of Education to come clean with the public about the true extent of school violence. The time for silence is over—action must be taken before someone loses their life.

This is not a distant or isolated problem; it is happening now, in our classrooms, in our communities. Reports of student-on-student and student-on-teacher violence are growing, yet many of these incidents never make it to the public. The Ministry’s refusal to disclose the full statistics is not just irresponsible—it is reckless. How can we fix a crisis that the government refuses to acknowledge?

Felicia Dujon, DLP Spokesperson for Education, revealed that the situation is even worse than many realize. “I am aware of at least three other schools where teachers were recently injured due to violent interactions with students, yet these incidents have not been reported in the public domain. The Ministry of Education must be honest with the people of Barbados. Our educators and students deserve the truth, and they deserve action.”

Teachers should not have to go to work fearing for their safety. Students should not have to learn in an environment of intimidation and violence. Yet, under this administration, both are happening. If swift measures are not taken, the consequences will be catastrophic. Schools will descend further into chaos, good teachers will leave the profession, and students will suffer the long-term effects of a failed system.

Research has consistently shown that youth behavioral problems must be addressed through early intervention programs, structured mentorship, and restorative justice approaches. Studies from the U.S. National Institute of Justice highlight that school-based conflict resolution programs have successfully reduced violence in high-risk schools by up to 50%. Similarly, the World Health Organization has found that trauma-informed care in schools—which ensures that students with difficult backgrounds receive the right psychological and emotional support—leads to lower aggression and higher academic performance. Barbados must adopt these evidence-based solutions before the situation worsens beyond repair.

The unions that represent teachers must step up and be more forceful in their advocacy. They must demand that the Ministry implement real, lasting solutions to protect educators and students alike. Student councils and parents must raise their voices and hold the government accountable—because if leadership fails to act now, the problem will only worsen, and the price will be devastating.

The DLP is ready to take decisive action. We are proposing an immediate School Safety and Intervention Strategy that includes:

– Conflict resolution programs in every school
– On-site student support services to address behavioral issues before they escalate
– A transparent reporting system so that incidents are no longer hidden from the public
– A specialized school safety task force to intervene where violence is recurring – Mentorship programs that pair at-risk youth with trained professionals

The Ministry of Education must stop sweeping this crisis under the rug before it is too late. The Democratic Labour Party is prepared to lead where this administration has failed. We will not stand by while our teachers and students suffer. Barbados needs leadership that will face the truth and take real action—now