The latest incident of school violence – a fight at the Albena Lake Hodge Comprehensive School late last week – appears to have led to a meeting called by the Minster of Education, Mr Jerome Roberts, to discuss how best to stop such incidents and the harm that is being done to the life and work of the school.
“The meeting came about as a result of the on-going behavioural problems being experienced at our campus,” the Minister told The Anguillian. “At the launch of the National Anti-Violence PAVE function on Friday evening [January 24], I used the opportunity as Minister responsible for Education, to invite various stakeholders to a meeting on Monday.
“Those who were present at this meeting included the Permanent Secretary for Education, Chanelle Petty Barrett; Chief Education Officer, Rhonda Connor; Principal of the Albena Lake-Hodge Comprehensive School, Ingrid Lake; the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Assembly, McNiel Rogers; the Minister of MICU, Evan Gumbs; Commissioner of Police, Rudolph Proctor; Michael Fleming, who volunteered his services to help with the school; and the President of the Teacher Union, Emma Ferguson.”
According to the Mr Roberts, the crux of the meeting, at the Ministry of Education, “was really to look for some recommendations as to how we can help to eradicate the major problems being experienced at the school.” He said it was a fruitful meeting and recalled that some of the recommendations included the following: the need for increased security at the school – not just searching students and other related matters – but in terms of mentorships; making the Ronald Webster Park a restricted area during school for members of the public and students to prevent drugs and other offences; the possible provision a camera system for the school; the provision of more lighting at the school’s compound at night; the implementation of a policy to deal with bullying; the need to provide security training for school personnel apart from the regular service being provided from sources outside the school; and the possibility of having more police patrols within the parameters of the school.
Mr Roberts indicated that the police patrols would be useful in that at times a number of students turn up at school under the influence of drugs including alcohol. He noted that police patrols and related procedures at the school were provided for in the Education Act and that such procedures would now be followed through. “It is something that we are going to revive and see how we can put it in place and deal with it,” the Minister said.
Mr Roberts added: “I thought that there were some positives that came out of the meeting, but the crux of the matter is that a lot of the problems that are being experienced stem from the homes where these children are coming from. Some of the children are left to themselves, basically unattended, and some of the parents are no role models for their children. We cannot expect the Principal and the teachers to teach and still be the eyes and ears for all that is happening in and around the school. The community as well has a role to play in helping to resolve some of these conflicts that we are experiencing.”
