Bold action has now been taken by the Minister of Education, Mr Anthony Garcia in having 24 students removed from the Chaguanas North Secondary School. He must be congratulated for his decisiveness which was fully warranted in the circumstances. Many hope that this is a new no-nonsense approach to the serious indiscipline which exists in our schools. And indeed throughout our country.
The facts at the Chaguanas School could hardly be clearer: the principal has identified 24 major troublemakers, many of whom have criminal records, have matters before the courts, have been engaged in bullying and harassing other students, teachers are now both frustrated and fearful for their lives and police have been alerted to a planned gun attack on individuals in the school.
Such monstrous conduct is behaviour expected of criminals, not school boys, and must be dealt with accordingly. Firm and effective corrective action was required to make them accountable and this was administrated.
Now there must be equally firm and prompt follow-up action. If the Boot Camp proposal can be readily implemented…good, but, what about the contamination effect and the strong likelihood of similar bad johns in other schools?
The Minister should now summon a meeting of school principals to launch a serious initiative to reinforce disciplined conduct in the schools. Turn this outrageous challenge to authority into an opportunity to send a new message to schools, parents and the country.
Let the restoration of disciplined conduct become a major priority even as we consider whether the time has not come to introduce some form of national service. There are many variations to the types of training that can be offered and there are many competent people who can be recruited to develop such a programme.
SERVOL had agreed some 10 years ago to undertake a specially-tailored programme. Unfortunately, the Manning government, at that time, preferred to work through government ministries.
You have taken long overdue and decisive action in striking back against indiscipline Minister Garcia, now you must run with the ball.
Ken Gordon