Education Minister Shaik Baksh yesterday said though incidents of violence in school are not widespread, his ministry views every such act as a matter of serious concern.
Baksh pointed out that when these incidents are reported, prompt action is taken to address the situation. Addressing scores of parents, headteachers, students and other stakeholders in society at a one day open forum titled  “Promoting Safe, Acceptable Behaviours and Positive Values in Schools” , at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown,  he affirmed that the Ministry of Education remains resolute in making the school a safe and conducive place for learning.
The forum, a joint venture between the Ministry of Education and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) seeks mainly to:
*    sensitise participants to the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders in promoting safe, acceptable behaviours and positive values in schools;
*    identify and discuss causal factors impacting on the behaviours of students in schools;
*    devise strategies to foster safer schools, acceptable behaviours and instil positive values in students; and
*    develop a system of collaboration between/among stakeholders to strengthen the range of support services available to students and schools.

The minister explained that his ministry is moving aggressively to address the problems here through a partnership approach to avoid Guyana descending to the level of some of its sister CARICOM states.
Baksh stressed that contrary to media reports, violence in school is not a widespread problem here, noting that often the information presented as news is furthest from the truth and is rooted in hearsay rather than solid statistics.
He pointed out that a recent survey conducted in schools countrywide over a six-month period has indicated that violent behaviour was recorded in 26 schools, with 62 cases, and involved 117 students.
These figures, Baksh noted, represent less than three percent of the schools in the country and 0.05 per cent of the total student population.
Most of the high profile cases, the minister reported, have occurred in Georgetown, and closer attention will be paid to the schools where these incidents occur the most.
He declared that every incident in the school system is of serious concern, and his ministry has been treating the problem with the attention it deserves.
The Ministry of Education has initiated several measures to address the problem. These include the introduction of child-friendly schools in Region Two. This programme will be extended to all schools, so too will the Health and Family Life Education programme.
The training of teachers to respond to crisis situations, the strengthening of the School’s Welfare Department, the placement of School’s Welfare Officers at selected schools, and recently the launching of a national mentoring programme are also part of the new initiative.
Baksh disclosed that under the new education legislation, which is still at the Attorney General’s Chambers, provision has been made for the establishment of a Students’ Council.
This Council, he said, will monitor the behaviour of students, report on the conduct and performance of teachers in the classroom, assist headteachers to devise school rules and policies, and work with schools in enforcing these guidelines.
The legislation also includes a national code of conduct governing the behaviour of teachers and students.
On that point, the minister contended that all headteachers should use the Ministry of Education manual on discipline in school as a guide to address and reduce students’ indisciplined behaviour.
He said too that parents have an important role to play in inculcating values of discipline and good conduct in their children, and should be more involved in their children’s education.
Baksh also suggested that every teacher meet with a parent of every child in his class, at least once per term, to get first hand information of the child’s behaviour and attitude towards learning.
He said his ministry will not tolerate students who pose a threat to their teachers and fellow students and expulsion will be treated as a secondary issue.
These students, he proposed, should be placed at the Sophia Special School where they will receive proper guidance and counseling to reverse their negative behaviour and become productive citizens in society.
Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee, who also addressed the occasion, said the forum is relevant and timely and will give the Ministry of Education a clear sense of direction on the way forward in promoting safe and acceptable behaviours in school.
He said that his ministry remains committed to eradicating deviant behaviour in society and contended that the best way forward to address this issue is through a multi-sectoral approach.
Rohee underlined that the Government has the right policy in place, and it is time officials stop interpreting the policies and put their shoulders to the wheel to change the situation.