The brutal assault of a student at Yarrowkabra Secondary School has reignited concerns about violence and bullying in Guyana’s education system, with former Georgetown Mayor Pt. Ubraj Narine warning that the shocking incident reflects a longstanding national problem rather than an isolated act of schoolyard violence.
A video circulating on social media this week shows a female student being beaten, kicked, trampled and slapped by other students while onlookers watched. The footage has triggered widespread condemnation and renewed scrutiny of the Ministry of Education’s efforts to tackle bullying and violence in schools.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Narine described the incident as “sickening, heartbreaking, and completely unacceptable.”
“It shows a young schoolgirl being brutally beaten, kicked, trampled upon, slapped, and subjected to merciless violence by other students, while others stood by and watched. No child in Guyana should ever endure such cruelty, especially in a school environment that is supposed to offer safety and care,” he said.
Narine argued that the attack highlights deeper systemic failures within the education sector.
“This incident highlights a painful reality: our system is failing us. Violence and bullying in schools are no longer isolated incidents; they are symptoms of weak enforcement, poor supervision, and delayed intervention. When children feel free to carry out such attacks, it signals a breakdown in discipline and accountability,” he stated.
His comments come against the backdrop of years of research showing that bullying and school violence remain entrenched problems in Guyana.
A UNICEF-supported Violence Against Children Survey found that 37.4 % of students reported being bullied by fellow students, while 58% reported being beaten by schoolmates. The study also found that violence and bullying were factors contributing to absenteeism and school dropout.
UNICEF has repeatedly warned that bullying is not a harmless childhood experience but a form of violence that can lead to depression, anxiety, poor academic performance, emotional trauma, self-harm and, in severe cases, suicidal thoughts.
Globally, the organisation estimates that one in three students between the ages of 13 and 15 experiences bullying. Against that backdrop, Narine accused the Ministry of Education of failing to adequately address the issue.
“The Ministry of Education has failed to effectively address bullying and violence in our schools. Too often, action is only taken after a video goes viral or a child is severely harmed. This reactive approach is unacceptable and must change,” he said.
He also expressed concern about the apparent indifference of those who witnessed the attack.
“What is equally disturbing is the culture of silence shown by those who stood by. When students watch violence instead of reporting it, it means fear and normalisation have replaced responsibility and care,” Narine said.
To address the problem, he called for a series of urgent reforms, including mandatory anti-bullying policies in every school, greater access to trained counsellors and welfare officers, stronger supervision during breaks and other high-risk periods, confidential reporting mechanisms, greater parental accountability and a zero-tolerance approach to serious acts of violence.
Narine also urged the introduction of programmes focused on respect, empathy, conflict resolution and the consequences of violence.
“Our children deserve schools that protect them, not environments where fear and brutality thrive,” he said. “If decisive action is not taken now, we risk raising a generation that sees violence as normal and accountability as optional. Guyana must do better—starting with real leadership, firm policies, and consistent enforcement.”
The incident at Yarrowkabra Secondary School has once again raised troubling questions about whether enough is being done to protect students from violence. The UNICEF findings suggest that the problem extends far beyond a single viral video, pointing instead to a pattern of bullying and aggression that has persisted in Guyana’s schools for years.
Analyst argue that unless authorities move beyond reacting to public outrage and implement meaningful preventative measures, incidents such as the one at Yarrowkabra will continue to be repeated across the education system.
