THE Schools’ Welfare Department has reported that since the intervention of Guidance and Counselling Officers at the Tutorial High School earlier this year, there has been an encouraging improvement in students’ behaviour.
And generally, teachers are now better able to control their charges.
According to the department, reported cases of violent offences dropped from 13 in January to nine in February, and to three in March. These incidents included fights, assaults and damage to property, with fights accounting for 19 of the 25 reported offences.
During the second term, this figure was reduced to 21 cases of which nine were fights and an equal number were assaults.
Guidance and Counselling Officers were also placed at St. Winifride’s and Lodge Secondary schools. They are playing a vital role in making these schools more youth friendly.
The officers benefitted from numerous in-house workshops and seminars in Guidance and Counselling, Health and Family Life Education, and Mentoring.
Approaching the end of last term, there was a marked change in all of the targeted schools with no reported case of violence.
The Ministry of Education in September will be placing more Guidance and Counselling Officers in the school system to fortify its efforts to ensure that schools remain and cultivate an atmosphere conducive to learning.
Education Minister Shaik Baksh had earlier this year announced a 10 point plan to promote safe, acceptable behaviours and positive values in school.
These measures included strengthening the security systems in schools; searching of students at some schools; the re-launching of a national mentoring programme that will be extended to all schools; and the introduction of child friendly schools in Region Two. This programme will be extended to 30 more schools from September.