– Ministry to place negligent parents before court
EDUCATION Minister Shaik Baksh has said his ministry will take a tougher stance against truancy which will see negligent parents being placed before the court. Speaking at a recent teachers’ forum at the Tain, University of Guyana (UG), Berbice Campus, Baksh said his ministry is moving in this direction because initial efforts made to talk to these parents were ineffective.

Truancy, he said, is a problem in Region Six and other parts of the country and stern action has to be taken to ensure these children attend school, receive a proper education and become productive citizens in society.

Data from the School’s Welfare Department has indicated that from September to December last year, some 116 truants were apprehended in campaigns carried out in East Canje, Corriverton to Crabwood Creek and Albion to Rose Hall, Region Six.

Some of the children taken-off the streets were referred to the Regional Probation Officer and in some cases to Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) where they received, among other things, material support.

The Regional Education Department also issued re-admission letters to seven of the truants who were out-of-school youths and made several follow-up school visits to these and the other children who were taken off the streets.

Minister Baksh announced that more effort are being made to strengthen capacity in Region Six to tackle the problem and to get truants and their parents to understand the values and benefits of education.

He urged parents to monitor their children’s behaviour, pay closer attention to their education and pointed out that his ministry remains open to working with them to improve the latter’s performance.

The minister said the Government is providing free uniform, text books and other forms of support to students and all parents and teachers must live-up to their responsibility in ensuring students leaving the school system receive a sound education.