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51 parents prosecuted for neglecting to educate children

Sep 28, 2011 News

 

…between September 2010 to July 2011- Snr. Welfare Officer

Every child has the right to an education and those who prevent this must be prosecuted. The Ministry of Education acting under the laws of Guyana took 51 parents who neglected to educate their children to court during the period September 2010 to July 2011.
According to Yvonne Arthur, Senior Schools’ Welfare Officer, the area with the highest numbers of parents neglecting to educate their children is the Corentyne, Region Six. She pointed out that in Corentyne some 23 parents were brought before the court. Meanwhile, 15 parents from Mahaica were taken to court because they also failed to educate their offspring.
Arthur emphasized that taking parents to court is the last resort of the Ministry to ensure compliance with the law and upholding their obligation as parents to send their children to school.
To obtain the names of students whose attendance rate is 70 percent and below, the Ministry checks the schools’ registers.  She added that the Schools’ Welfare Department then conducts home visits to ascertain why they do not attend classes regularly. In some cases where poverty is a contributing factor the Ministry assists parents with school items.
However, when all efforts were made and the parents still refuse to send their children to school, they are taken to court. Arthur stated that the law says that the magistrate must prescribe a school within a two-mile radius, the parents have to agree, and both the magistrate and parents will sign a document called the First Order. This makes the parents legally obligated to provide their children with formal education.
There are instances, where some parents continue to neglect to educate their children and they are brought before the court for the second time. The magistrate then uses his or her prerogative in serving the parents appropriate sentencing or penalties.
She confirmed that there were three repeaters from the Mahaica and Corentyne areas.
It was emphasized that since 2010, the Ministry has been executing two truancy campaigns weekly in each region. However, keeping children in school is a continuous effort, as every school year there are new students with different issues.

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