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Gambling replaces remedial learning in New Amsterdam
Young children caught in the act of gambling before the start of a new school day at the Vryman’s Erven Annex/ Trinity Street Primary Tops
More and more children are engaging in the unhealthy societal ill of gambling. Without a doubt instances of gambling have been prevalent and are being reported within the school system on a daily basis.
Some schools are hot spots more than others, while some that were not hot- spots are slowly becoming gambling centres especially during non- teaching sessions like morning recess and lunchtime.
These are the times when teachers and students part ways and children are left unsupervised and in some cases, leave the school compound and surroundings to retreat to a suitable area where they conduct their clandestine activities.
This newspaper caught a few students of a school in New Amsterdam a few days ago gambling. The school, referred to as “Donkey College” is one of the lowest grades of schools in the entire Berbice region.
Attending it are the ‘rejects’ of the entire secondary system; students who gained below average marks at the National Grade Six Assessment Examination (NGSA).
Early one morning, minutes before the start of the 8:30 am session of school, the cameras of Kaieteur News caught sight of the gamblers. But they were not gambling on the school’s premises.
A group of boys had gathered, during what has become a normal ritual for the students, on the steps of the All Saints’ Anglican Church located just opposite the school’s Trinity Street location.
The boys were engaging a regular practice which can be attested to any passer- by and motorist traversing in either Trinity Street or Church Street, on a daily basis—be it school time or recess time. This time it was before the start of the school day.
The All Saints’ Anglican Church is fenced all around. But somehow, these boys always gain access to the compound of the church and situate themselves on the patio of the church just next to the back entrance, to gamble.
One may say that that is a sacrilegious act on the part of these school children, to gamble on the doorsteps of a place of worship—a place that is very special to many in their hearts. It has indeed angered some members of the community.
The parish priest of the church, the Venerable Archdeacon George Spencer could not be reached for a comment, however, reliable reports suggest that the priest had recognized the problem and had reported the matter to the school’s head teacher but to no avail.
The head teacher is one of the retired- rehired teachers in the system.
Kaieteur News understands that the school has only female teachers, who find it difficult dealing with the pre-adolescent and adolescent boys.
Furthermore, why has there been no intervention by the police to accost these young bandits in the making and nip this problem in the bud once and for all?
(Leon Suseran)
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