Education Ministry launches manual to promote safe schools

Nov 28, 2011 News

The Education Ministry on Wednesday launched a Protocol for Safe and Secure Schools.
The 35-page manual spells out the way forward in maintaining safe and conducive learning environments.
The protocol is the product of a national stakeholders’ consultation on promoting safe and secure schools which was convened last year at the National Conference Centre.
The Education Ministry/UNICEF funded initiative aims to equip school managers with requisite skills to effectively respond to critical situations, for example, when managers should seek the intervention of the police, as well as the procedure to conduct searches on students.
Apart from this, other important matters would be the role of the school administrators, staff, students, parents/guardians, police, and education officials.
The protocol also covers issues such as access to schools, managing of illegal weapons and illicit substances in schools, monitoring of gangs, associations, anti-social cliques and dealing with the aftermath of an incident.
Speaking at the launch, which was convened at the National Centre for Educational Resource Development (NCERD), Education Minister Shaik Baksh said the drive and commitment of the ministry to promote and maintain discipline in schools cannot be questioned, as these are reflected in a plethora of interventions to address the problem.
These, he said, include the introduction of the Health and Family Life Education (HFLE) programme in 70 schools, the promotion of child-friendly schools, the introduction of a mentoring programme, the launching of Students’ Councils, the resuscitation of Parent/Teacher Associations and the strengthening of the human resource capacity of the School’s Welfare Department. The Minister disclosed that the capacity of this department will be enhanced to enable it to reach out to more students, particularly those in hinterland dorms.
These initiatives have been having a positive impact in inculcating safe and acceptable behaviours in students, he continued, pointing out that the ministry has managed to keep unacceptable behaviours in the school system under control.
He added that guidance counselors have been working with selected schools, and have been reaching out to other students who need help.
Baksh also lauded the Guyana Teachers’ Union’s (GTU) contribution to the manual, noting that safe and secure learning environments must be the business of all.
GTU President Colin Bynoe said the union is pleased to have an input in the document and is solidly behind the ministry’s efforts to promote safe and secure learning environments.
Chief Education Officer Olato Sam said the manual is of great significance to the ministry, as safe school environments are a perquisite to learning.
He stressed that the ministry will be monitoring the implementation of the manual, and called for it to be infused in the Education Management Programme being offered by NCERD as well as the education programme at the University of Guyana (UG).
UNICEF representative Michelle Rodrigues lauded the work of the ministry in promoting discipline and safe and conducive learning environments in the school system, and pledged UNICEF’s support to continue working with the ministry.
Deputy Chief Education Officer (Development) Donna Chapman also spoke at the event that was attended by scores of teachers and students.

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Education Ministry launches manual to promote safe schools

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