Low turnout at schools after fiery riots

Apr 30, 2025 News

Kaieteur News- Schools across Guyana, particularly on the East Coast, East Bank, and in Georgetown, remained largely empty on Tuesday, following violent protests triggered by the autopsy results of 11-year-old Adriana Younge.

Public schools were expected to reopen on Monday after the two-week Easter break. However, chaos erupted after the autopsy revealed Adriana had drowned, a conclusion that many, including her family, have rejected. “This is no result to me,” her father, Subrian Younge, declared. The report, conducted by three pathologists at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), was met with immediate unrest. What began as a peaceful protest outside the GPHC spiralled into violent confrontations after a security guard allegedly punched a female protester.

Low turnout at schools after fiery riots

An empty classroom at St. Stephen’s Primary

Protesters and riot police clashed violently. Police fired rubber pellets, while demonstrators retaliated with bricks, glass bottles, and debris. Fires were set, businesses looted, and streets barricaded. Among the most affected areas were Regent, Camp, and Lamaha Streets, where videos showed supermarkets being looted and attempts to break into the City Mall and other establishments.

As a result, citizens, partially parents, were afraid to send their children to school. While no official directive has yet been issued by the Ministry of Education, most public schools saw extremely low attendance as fearful parents opted to keep their children at home. “Once there is an update in this regard, we will communicate same to the public,” the Ministry’s Public Relations Officer told Kaieteur News on Tuesday.

Kaieteur News understands that public schools in Plaisance, Buxton, Paradise on the East Coast Demerara (ECD), as well as President’s College and St. Stephen’s Primary, only a handful of students showed up. West Demerara Secondary, Soesdyke Secondary and Yarrowkabra Secondary on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway were completely shut down. Some schools, such as Queen’s College, pivoted to online sessions. A teacher from Brickdam Secondary related to this publication that she left school early because students did not show up. “When I arrived at the school, no children were there, the roads were empty, and I just came to school, signed in, and went home afterwards,” she recounted.

Pollard Primary School in Georgetown visibly empty while passing

Meanwhile, a teacher from President’s College shared a contrasting experience for Monday: “Yesterday was 95% attendance. Members of full-house staff attended classes, and the curriculum was delivered.” However, by Tuesday, things had drastically changed. “Today, we had an issue with what happened last night (Monday evening). Teachers were scared to come out. By 1 p.m., the teachers left the compound. They were given an unofficial green light to go home. No teaching was done, and staff presence was limited.”

For students preparing for exams, particularly Grade 11 pupils, schools began organising online sessions to continue the curriculum. “The ministry needs to issue a clear statement. We have to protect the nation’s children,” the teacher urged. Parents voiced concern over the safety of sending their children to school amidst the unrest. One mother, whose child attends a school on the East Coast, explained, “My son went to school yesterday, but today we are not comfortable sending him, in case anything happens.” A child residing on the East Coast said he and his siblings stayed home out of fear, following Monday night’s violence. Meanwhile, private institutions’ administrations responded swiftly. Mae’s Schools announced online learning for the week. “It is in the best interest of our students and staff to prioritize their safety. As such, we will have online learning for this week,” the school stated. Nations School also closed on Tuesday, including its university and administrative offices. Adriana Younge’s body was found approximately 20 hours after she was reported missing from the swimming pool area at Double Day Hotel in Tuschen. Her disappearance and the delayed discovery, despite prior searches of the hotel grounds, sparked intense public outrage and scrutiny of the police’s handling of the case.

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