Garcia: Bullying in school is just one per cent

YVONNE WEBB

In spite of countless viral videos showing students of all ages engaged in acts of violence against their peers, Education Minister Anthony Garcia said on Tuesday only one per cent of students in the nation’s schools are involved in such acts of violence and indiscipline. The media, Garcia said, must take the blame for making bullying look widespread.

Addressing the National Primary Schools Principals Association (NPSPA) annual general meeting at Petrotrin Sports Club, Pointe a Pierre, Garcia, who is being sued by the principal of the Siparia West Secondary school arising out of one such violent incident, said violence and indiscipline in schools have been drastically reduced.

He told the principals, “Sometimes we hear claims of violence and indiscipline in schools.

Information coming to us from principals, is that these incidents of indiscipline and violence have been drastically reduced.”

Statistical evidence produced by the the ministry’s Chief Executive Officer Harrilal Seecharan suggests that incidents of indiscipline and violence resides in only about one per cent of the school’s population. “Sometimes I blame the media for trying to sensationalise one or two isolated incidents,” the minister said.

The theme of the NPSPA was, “A nation in crisis, the principal’s response”. Garcia said he was taken aback by the nation in crisis perspective, but was heartened by the principals response. Pledging support for all principals, Garcia congratulated them for being in the forefront to ensure changes in the education system, to ensure this nation comes out of the crisis the school systems and the surmounting the challenges and problems. He recalled a suggestion by the association to reduce the lunch hour as one way of reducing violence and indiscipline in schools. Garcia said that although it was a positive intervention, it was met by criticisms from various sources and he expressed the right of principals to be the mouthpiece for teachers in this country. “Whether you agree or disagree, respect the right of principals to speak out on major issues,” Garcia said.

Garcia noted that principals who had a duty of care to ensure the safety and security of their charges, were involved in so much more than supervision and ensuring the integrity of the curriculum.

Again he lashed out at the media, saying the job of a principal was a difficult one and it was easy for the public and media to criticise them for what they were doing.

He encourage the principals to highlight their achievements so people would know what they are doing.