BUT sounds alarm on increase in student deviance, verbal abuse and violence

A surge in violent attacks on educators has prompted the Barbados Union of Teachers (BUT) to call for immediate intervention from education authorities, after four teachers at three secondary schools were assaulted in recent days—two of whom required medical attention and were placed on leave.

“The Barbados Union of Teachers is deeply concerned about the rising incidents of student-on-teacher violence in schools across the island,” BUT President Rudy Lovell said. “Disturbingly, this week alone, I have seen reports of four separate attacks on teachers at three different institutions, resulting in at least two teachers having to seek medical attention. The union unequivocally condemns such behaviour.”

The situation has particularly escalated at the Princess Margaret Secondary School in St Philip, where tensions have reached a boiling point. Teachers there have written a letter outlining widespread frustration over what they said was an increase in student deviance, verbal abuse, and outright violence against staff.

Teachers at the school said they have had enough. Their complaints centre on a rising tide of disrespect and disregard for authority by students, which they believe is being left unaddressed.

In response to the unrest, the school will be closed on Thursday to allow for a high-level meeting between staff and the Ministry of Education. According to Lovell, the meeting is intended to address the mounting safety concerns.

“The union has been made aware that the Princess Margaret Secondary School will be closed tomorrow to facilitate a discussion between teachers and officials from the Ministry of Education,” he said. “I believe that this meeting is being held to address the concerns of the staff, including the violence against teachers on the compound.”

Lovell also confirmed that two other teachers at separate secondary schools were similarly attacked and are now on medical leave. He did not disclose the names of the institutions.

“We have also received reports of two other incidents at two other schools—two other institutions. I do not want to name the institutions, but two teachers at these institutions have sought medical attention and have been placed on medical leave by their medical practitioners,” he said.

The incidents come just months after Lovell warned that violence in schools had reached a “crisis level”, telling Barbados TODAY in February that the situation had become so severe that some institutions were no longer safe for teaching and learning.

“The largest teachers’ union in Barbados is deeply worried that a number of schools across the island have become ‘danger zones’,” Lovell said at the time. “The issue of violence in schools, particularly against teachers, has raised its ugly head. Some secondary school educators are being physically assaulted on the job, sometimes to the point of requiring medical attention.”

He pointed to earlier cases involving physical attacks on two teachers at Coleridge & Parry and one at Lester Vaughan, as well as widespread reports of verbal threats and abuse across the island, creating a “more toxic” work environment for educators.

The union is now calling for urgent, sustained action from education authorities to stem the rising tide of violence and restore a sense of safety and order in schools.

“Our teachers deserve to feel safe in their workplaces, and the challenges they face must be urgently and meaningfully addressed,” Lovell insisted. 

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb