Cell phones like clothes for youths...says NPTA president

National Parent Teacher Association (NPTA) president Raffiena Ali-Boodoosingh believes banning cell phones with cameras in schools is archaic because young people cannot do without the their phones.

“The cell phone now is like a piece of clothing for the young people. So, it is not just to say that we can ban the cell phone but, we have to work around it to see what we can do to allow the cell phones to be in schools,” Ali-Boodoosingh said.

The retired principal made the comments at a press conference held at Pleasantville Secondary School yesterday when she highlighted several problems facing schools.

The abuse of the cell phone stems from indiscipline and to make a dent and try to correct the issue, it is important for all key stakeholders to be involved, she suggested.

In terms of the indiscipline and violence in schools, Ali-Boodoosingh added: “I do not believe a primary school child should be suspended for indiscipline. I cannot see how an eight- year-old child can be suspended. They do nothing home and come back in the school, frustrated and angrier.”

She expressed concerns about the large number of students who drop-out of school. She explained that at age five, there are about 17,000 students entering the school system. However, by the time they write CSEC examinations, there are only 12,000.

“What has happened to that 5,000 children? We need to track these children and know what is happening to them...There is nothing really, at least at the primary school level, to track these children, when they are dropping out. Yes, there are social workers but not all schools have social workers,” Ali-Boodoosingh said.

She said while the health and family life education curriculum exist, more could be done to improve the school curriculum. She suggested that at a young age, maybe from three, students should be taught about good attitude and values.

Ali-Boodoosingh has been an educator for the past 41 years. She is no stranger to the NPTA, having served for 25 years.

Ali-Boodoosingh told reporters the new executive has three major objectives to carry the organisation forward.

The first is to promote the welfare of the child in the home, school and community. The second is to increase membership. The third is to create a closer relationship between the home and the school so parents and teachers shall “cooperate intelligently in the training of the children”.

“Parents are the first teachers of the children. To have a smooth transition from home to school, that relationship is necessary, so we can have that impact on the children,” Ali-Boodoosingh said.

In commemoration of International Children’s Day, she called on children to pray, be obedient and show respect.