THE Ministry of Education has received more than 1,000 recommendations from stakeholders across Guyana as it moves to develop a comprehensive Anti-Bullying and Anti-Violence Policy for schools, with proposals ranging from anti-bullying clubs and peer advocacy programmes to enhanced counselling services and stricter disciplinary measures for repeat offenders.
The final consultation on the proposed policy was held on June 9 at the Mahaicony Technical and Vocational Training Centre, where parents, teachers, students and community members contributed ideas aimed at making schools safer and more supportive environments.
Minister of Education, Sonia Parag said all recommendations gathered during the nationwide consultation process will be compiled and reviewed by a multi-agency task force that includes representatives from the Ministries of Home Affairs and Human Services and Social Security.
According to the minister, the most impactful recommendations will inform a policy framework that establishes clear and standardised consequences for bullying, violence and other inappropriate behaviours by both students and educators.
Among the proposals submitted were the creation of anti-bullying clubs in schools, the development of peer advocates to support affected students, increased access to counselling services, and penalties such as community service or the withholding of school cash grants for chronic offenders. Some parents also advocated for community-led after-school programmes designed to foster teamwork, camaraderie and positive social interaction.
Minister Parag stressed that the policy will address all forms of bullying and violence, including physical, verbal, psychological and social abuse.
“What we’re seeing is not simply an act of bullying, but it’s also translating into violence and it’s making our spaces that should be safe, unsafe for our children,” the minister said.
She noted that bullying often extends beyond physical confrontations and can include social exclusion, verbal attacks and other forms of psychological harm that can have lasting effects on a child’s well-being.
The minister also highlighted the growing influence of social media and digital platforms on children’s behaviour, noting that the modern environment presents challenges that did not exist for previous generations.
“Years ago, a child would be influenced by what happens in their homes, schools and neighbourhoods, but now they are also influenced by social media and what happens online and the trends that dominate that space,” she said.
In addition to developing the policy, the Ministry of Education plans to introduce enhanced training for school guidance counsellors beginning in September. The training will place a greater emphasis on psychology and mental health support to better equip counsellors to address the emotional and psychological challenges faced by students.
“This will focus heavily on psychology and help our counsellors to provide more wholesome psychological support, because now we’re dealing with mental health issues that our children are having from these issues, and the realities of suicide and so on,” Minister Parag explained.
The ministry is also pursuing measures to improve supervision within schools and strengthen the reporting of incidents to ensure timely intervention. The minister expressed optimism that initiatives such as the Presidential Prison Avoidance Programme will contribute to positive behavioural change by encouraging young people to become productive members of society.
However, she emphasised that addressing bullying and violence in schools requires a collective effort involving parents, educators and communities.
For the hours children spend in school each day, teachers serve as their guardians, she said, while reminding parents that the responsibility for instilling values and discipline begins at home.
“Parents cannot pass the buck to schools,” the minister stated, arguing that children often mirror the behaviours and attitudes they observe within their families and communities.
She also urged parents to pay closer attention to their children’s online activities, warning against the unrestricted use of mobile phones and tablets without proper supervision.
At the same time, Parag underscored the distinction between discipline and abuse, noting that effective parenting does not require physical punishment.
“Discipline and abuse are two different things. You absolutely do not need to beat someone to make them understand,” she said.
Regional Education Officer Selestine La Rose welcomed the strong turnout at the consultation, describing it as evidence of the community’s commitment to creating safer schools nationwide.
The consultation concluded with an interactive session during which teachers, students and residents from across Region Five voiced concerns and shared recommendations.
Parag expressed hope that once the Anti-Bullying and Anti-Violence Policy is implemented, efforts can begin to develop supporting legislation to further strengthen protections for students and educators throughout the country’s education system.
