I am forced to comment on the situation at the Berbice High School as reported in the media and make a few observations.

Guyana is truly evolving as a democracy. What has happened at Berbice is a reflection of what happens every day in society – people want to choose when to let democracy work and when to ignore the democratic process.

The facts of the matter are that the teacher violated the Ministry of Education’s regulation with regard to the use of corporal punishment. The officials at the Ministry acted according to the requirement of the regulations based on the complaint of a parent. Some persons are using intimidation and threats to have the Ministry overturn its decision.

This is a sad day in the life of those children who were coerced into protesting for the teachers return. What were the parents, who sat at the parentteachers Meeting thinking when they decided on that course of action?

The students are being taught that it is acceptable to obey the rules when it suits them.

Having attended many parent/teachers meetings, I am aware of the dynamics of those gatherings. Head teachers dominate and decide for the parents what should or should not happen and the parents on the other hand are afraid to oppose for fear that their children will be penalized.

The result is that the children of this nation are being held hostage to a system that is corrupted by the very persons who are supposed to protect them. The teachers and parents who dare to come out of the box and object to the ‘rules’ are treated as outcasts and their children suffer the worst.

The truth is there is little that the Education Ministry can do. Very few teachers will report the misconduct of other teachers. There were several cases, some which have reached the courts, to prove that. When these matters are brought to the attention of the Ministry through other sources, the other teachers make every effort to hide the truth, the reason being that they are all guilty of similar behaviour at some time, and are afraid that they also may by accused.

The Education Ministry has put the necessary regulations in place and acted. It is now left to the parents and concerned teachers in the system to police the system and rid this violence against children from society.
Sean Jupitor