Education Minister: Milat being reviewed

EDUCATION Minister Dr Michael Dowlath says the ministry is currently reviewing the policy with respect to referring students who have been expelled from secondary school to the Military-led Academic Training Programme (Milat).

He made the comment in the Senate on October 29.

In response to a question from Opposition Senator Janelle John-Bates, Dowlath said the ministry was reviewing the policy as well as the national school code of conduct as part of the overall school discipline matrix. He added the process was being done by the Education and Defence Ministries.

He said the idea was to "create a balance between enforcing discipline and providing structured, compassionate rehabilitation pathway."

Dowlath repeated Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar's view that children could not learn in an atmosphere of fear and disorder and teachers could not teach.

He reminded senators that the issue led to the introduction of police officers at selected schools.

Dowlath said students would be held accountable for their actions and schools would remain safe environments for learning.

Asked later in the sitting by Opposition Senator Melanie Roberts-Radgman if any students were expelled from school since the start of the new academic year in September, Dowlath said that information would have to be provided in writing at a later date.

The Senate was later adjourned to a date to be fixed.