Apply directive on school violence impartially

The scourge of violence, indiscipline, toxic bullying, gang-like and other deviant behaviour has long plagued our nation’s schools. Some schools seem to have more than their share of such incidents. Children, parents and teachers have too often been victims of serious emotional, mental and physical injury, the latter quite often serious. We must never forget the 2019 horrific incident resulting in the stabbing death of a 16-year-old student after an altercation with a 15-year-old on school premises.

The teachers’ unions have long called for more criminal and other accountability for parents, particularly when their union members are directly impacted. No reasonable person will disagree that parents who do not responsibly discharge their duties to monitor and manage their children’s behaviour should be held accountable, criminally or otherwise, where appropriate.

It seems we are seeing the first tangible evidence of the ‘zero tolerance’ approach to school violence recently announced by Chad Blackman, Minister of Educational Transformation.

In a circular dated last Friday, to principals of all nursery, primary and secondary institutions, Chief Education Officer Dr Ramona Archer-Bradshaw instructed them to formally advise students, parents and guardians of Section 64 of the Education Act. Section 64(1) makes it an offence to: cause a disturbance in an educational institution; insult or abuse a teacher in the presence or hearing of pupils; use threatening, abusive, or insulting words in an educational institution; or assault a teacher or insult, assault or abuse a pupil. “A person guilty of an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $500, or imprisonment for six months, or both”, the circular stated, quoting Section 64 of the Education Act.

This official instruction appears to be unprecedented. Barbados Secondary Teachers’ Union President, Mary Redman, was quoted as saying, “Even though this provision in the law has been around since 1982, it has, to the best of my knowledge, not previously been publicised in this manner to sensitise the school community . . . . It must be noted that Section 64 (1) also offers protection for students as well.”

While we support all efforts and leadership to ensure a safe environment in our schools, for students, teachers and other staff, to address what appears to be a crisis of school indiscipline and violence, one wonders if further instructions have also been disseminated to school administrators, and also to students and parents, to ensure consistency and fairness in implementation of this directive. How is the offence of ‘a disturbance’ subject to criminal action defined? If this is indeed the announced ‘zero tolerance’ official policy in action, will allegedly offending students be instantly or automatically suspended, expelled or referred for criminal prosecution? What is the process by which this policy is implemented?

There is a reasonable concern that the same inequities and biases which manifest in our wider criminal court system, which disproportionately negatively impact those who are socio-economically disadvantaged, might also manifest here. This directive ideally should be married with a strong effort at rehabilitation of students exhibiting anti-social behaviour, especially the younger first-time offenders. Some can be saved, especially with earliest intervention. Consigning them to criminal records and locking them up in prison at an early age may doom them to a life of crime.

‘The devil is in the detail’: Clear consistent processes, their communication to all education stakeholders, and continuous reinforcement and review, are essential to maximise the success and fairness of the application of this initiative, ensuring it achieves its objectives of improved school safety and discipline. A ‘zero tolerance approach’ to all indiscipline incidents should not result in automatic suspension/expulsion/criminal referral.

School administrators should be able to exercise their judgement and discretion, depending of course on the severity of the student or parent behaviour. A case-by-case judicious response is preferable, instead of a ‘one size fits all’ scenario.

While this type of decisive action may be politically popular in the short-term, we would do well to also heed, and we support, the prudent thoughtful words of Barbados Union of Teachers President, Rudy Lovell, who welcomed the enforcement drive but also called again for more comprehensive systemic change: “This includes the establishment of (residential) rehabilitation facilities for deviant students, the hiring of more social workers and guidance counsellors (currently none at primary schools), and, where necessary, legislative reforms.”

Preventative measures inclusive of more public-school psychologists are needed. Early diagnostics and therapy starting at primary school level are important tools to address learning challenges which can be at the heart of deviant behaviour exhibited by some students. Dysfunctional homes, at risk communities and poverty challenges also result in such behaviour. Coordination of a multisectoral and multi-ministerial strategy, such as was outlined by Prime Minister Mottley in 2019, is also essential as part of a comprehensive long-term national strategy to combat school violence and indiscipline.

Parents and others in civil society have long called for such a comprehensive, proactive and solution-based approach. We note the Barbados TODAY Editorial, June 5, 2025, titled School violence is a systemic issue requiring a systemic response.

The Ministry of Educational Transformation must also publicly commit to its own accountability. Effective accountability must be two-way, transparent, and clearly enforced. Too many frustrated parents advise of cases where they have reported to the relevant authorities that their children have been victimised by fellow students. Insufficient official response in some cases can lead to further escalation of deviant behaviour, sometimes with terrible injury and other consequences to the student victim.

We urge fellow parents/guardians to discharge their parental duties responsibly, to monitor and address any inappropriate behaviour exhibited by their children, and to be receptive to support when it is needed and offered. Students must also be reminded that their quest to become adults and engage in mature behaviour also means that there are responsibilities which come as part of preparation for adulthood. We should also have a sustained communication strategy to engage students, in their schools and communities, to listen to their concerns.

We therefore await the leadership incorporated in the long-promised National School Security and Safety Protocol, and its implementation. Minister Blackman recently advised Barbados its draft would be shortly laid before the Cabinet for approval.

Paula-Anne Moore is the spokesperson and coordinator of the Group of Concerned Parents of Barbados and Caribbean Coalition for Exam Redress.