– Schools’ Welfare Department
THE Schools’ Welfare Department has reported that the placement of Guidance and Counselling Officers at Lodge, Tutorial and St. Winefride’s secondary schools, coupled with the support of the teachers and administrative staff, has led to significantly fewer incidents of violence at these schools. Earlier in the year, the behaviour of students at these schools was a major concern and the situation on several occasion attracted the attention of the community, sections of the media and other concerned citizens.

Punctuality was also an issue as a number of students were habitually late for classes on a daily basis.

“This situation has changed drastically; and to date, the behaviour of students has improved and students are now attending school on time.

“There is a marked decrease in fights, gambling and students being out of their classrooms during the teaching sessions. Other behavioural problems such as students being disrespectful to their teachers and fellow students,  not being properly attired in their uniforms, and leaving the classrooms and school compound without their teachers’ permission have declined dramatically,” the Schools’ Welfare body observed.

Senior Guidance and Counselling Officer, Marceline Moses credited the change in students behaviour to vigilance, creativity and the system that is being used to monitor students.

Guidance Officers also receive support from the staff members at the three schools along with assistance from Ms. Moses in the form of group discussions, experiential sharing and developmental sessions.

“Intervention by the officers by way of the creation of a register to record the names of students, who violate the school’s rules has resulted in a commendable dip in devious acts committed by students. This is not to say that the situation at these schools is now a perfect one; behavioural problems still exist, but to a lesser extent,” the report said.

The problems that exist are minor in nature, but the counsellors are working to instill in all students values of positive, safe and acceptable behaviours, both in and out of school.

The officers were once teachers and also provide guidance and support to students who are academically weak. This includes the provision of books and teaching aids to teachers to promote learning and create child-friendly classrooms.

Officers saw the need also to hold pep talks with students.

“The fact that students were informed of the officers’ presence and the fact that they knew what the roles of the officers would be and what could be achieved by their intervention, made them willing to open-up to the officers, to have their concerns addressed. Students now have a place where they can release their stress,” the report noted.

It noted too the need to strengthen the guidance department and observed that the negative behaviours of students are often off-shoots of problems in the home. Parents, the reported said, need to give their children the attention they deserve and members of the community need to foster and maintain a relationship that will instill in children the values of good citizenship.

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 has been extended to 30 more schools this term.