Guyana’s public schools are becoming violent. Everyday conduct has degenerated over the last three years with 137 serious incidents reported countrywide. School violence – involving arson; assault; bullying; damaging property; defying teacher and school authority; disrupting classes; fighting other students and teachers; gambling; disobeying school rules; stealing; threatening students and teachers; using abusive and pejorative language and violating social norms and mores.
Former President David Granger, speaking on his weekly programme – The Public Interest – decried the episodes of antisocial conduct and disorderly behaviour by students, teachers and parents which impede teaching and learning. He said that violence can affect the performance of nearly 183,000 students in the state primary and secondary schools and the perceptions of 11,000 teachers in 860 state primary and secondary schools.
Granger cited records which indicated an increasing incidence of school violence over the past three years – from 21 reported cases in 2020; 25, in 2021; 33, in 2022 and to 58 (in 2023). Serious cases of violence among students were reported when one student suffered a fractured skull after being beaten; another died after being attacked and beaten and a student and teachers were attacked by a gang.
The former president said violence against teachers was reprehensible and should not be tolerated as an ‘occupational hazard’ for members of that profession. Incidents were reported in which teachers were attacked and, occasionally, beaten by parents.
The former president expressed the view that school violence is the result, in part, of the ‘secondary impact’ of the criminal violence during the ‘Troubles’ when public disorder − on the streets and in the media − was witnessed by residents of all ages. He asked, rhetorically, ‘Who can forget the stoning of a school bus and injury of four schoolchildren in broad daylight on Friday 6th March 2020 by a PPP mob on the Bush Lot Village public road in the Mahaica-Berbice Region? Violent conduct has a negative impact on victims – teachers and students. Classes are disrupted, students are suspended, expelled or dropout and learning is compromised.
Granger expressed optimism that school violence can be curbed by implementing corrective measures. He recommends a clear and unqualified high-level commitment by the Government to purposeful and continuous collaboration with teachers’ unions and parents’ associations to seek solutions to the crisis of school violence. He recommended, also, the conscientious implementation of the National Policy on Social Cohesion in order to promote public trust, encourage equality among social groups, eliminate discrimination and foster respect. These measures should be supported by the ‘Uniform Code of Behaviour’ − based on the Ministry of Education’s 2002 ‘Guidelines’ for assignments, attendance, attitude, discipline, decorum, dress, punishment and managing relations among students and with staff.
School violence in the public education system is an urgent, everyday social issue. The Constitution entitles every child to the right to free education and, also, to education that would include preparation to deal with social issues, inter alia. Much more can be done to empower teachers to teach, and enable children to learn, without violence.󠄀
