School parties

Dec 13, 2025 Editorial, News

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(Kaieteur News) – Once again, the nation has been forced to confront an uncomfortable truth: the moral compass in too many of our schools is spinning wildly out of control.

The latest incident students brazenly transforming a classroom into a dance hall during a Christmas party was not just shocking; it was disgraceful. The vulgarity on display did not emerge in a vacuum. It is the product of a slow and steady breakdown in discipline, a worrying absence of parental guidance, and a troubling failure of school supervision.

Minister of Education Sonia Parag was quick to condemn the episode, labelling the behaviour “inappropriate and vulgar.” She rightly reminded the public that the Ministry of Education does not condone such conduct under any circumstance, Christmas Social or otherwise. Her statement that clear instructions had already been issued to head teachers and senior administrators underscores the most glaring failure in this matter: those tasked with supervising the event simply did not do their jobs.

And that is where accountability must begin. It is difficult to imagine how a classroom an institution meant for learning and order, could be converted into a mini-nightclub without any adult noticing. Music had to be played. Furniture had to be rearranged. Students had to be left unchecked long enough to lower themselves into gyrations that have no place in any school, much less at a Christmas celebration. Where were the teachers? Where were the administrators? Where were the adults?

We have reached a point where the lack of supervision in schools is not merely incidental it has become systemic. The Minister’s reminder that “those responsible… must be held accountable” is welcome, but condemnation alone will not solve this growing crisis.

Parents, too, must face the mirror. Schools cannot be expected to shoulder the burden of raising children who arrive already devoid of self-control, respect, or basic decency. The truth remains: behaviour displayed in public spaces often mirrors behaviour tolerated at home. The minister’s call for all stakeholders to “work together to discourage negative behaviour” is a polite way of saying what many are afraid to admit—too many parents have abdicated their responsibilities.

What we witnessed this week is not new. Kaieteur News has reported on similar scenes over the years. The difference today is the alarming frequency and intensifying brazenness. It is no coincidence that the issue of school parties has long been contentious. Under the previous administration, when parties were banned at the secondary level, the current government then in opposition was quick to decry the decision. Former Education Minister Priya Manickchand was emphatic at the time. She argued that banning parties demonstrated the Ministry’s inability to manage schools in a way that allowed children to socialize responsibly. She insisted that the policy lacked consultation, unfairly tainted the entire school population, and insulted teachers by implying they were incapable of maintaining order.

Her concerns then were not without merit. But this week’s display raises a critical question: were the proponents of school socials overly optimistic about the system’s ability to enforce discipline?

Because the evidence now suggests that even with clear directives, even with adult supervision required, even with warnings issued, some schools cannot manage a simple Christmas gathering without descending into chaos and indecency. This is not about being prudish. It is about safeguarding the culture, values, and moral foundation of our nation’s youth.

 

School events—whether parties, socials, or celebrations—can and should occur. They provide opportunities for camaraderie, relaxation, and social learning. But they require structure, rules, and present, engaged adults. If those basic elements are missing, schools have no business hosting events at all.

Going forward, several measures should be non-negotiable:

1. Mandatory adult-to-student supervision ratios, with teachers assigned clear responsibilities during events.
2. Strict guidelines outlining permissible activities, dress codes, and conduct at school socials.
3. Pre-event briefings for both students and staff, reinforcing expected behaviour and consequences.
4. Parental involvement, whether through volunteers or mandatory consent acknowledging the standards required.
5. Clear disciplinary follow-through, ensuring that this type of vulgarity is met with real consequences, not public outrage followed by quiet forgetfulness.

The nation cannot afford complacency. Each time we excuse or ignore such behaviour, we erode the core principles that schools are meant to uphold. This latest incident is a reminder, loud, embarrassing, and unavoidable, that discipline is collapsing before our eyes. It is time for all involved, teachers, parents, administrators, policymakers to stop pointing fingers and start enforcing standards. If our children cannot behave responsibly at a simple school Christmas party, then the crisis we face is far deeper than one vulgar video circulating online. And the next incident will not shock anyone—because we would have grown accustomed to the decay.

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• Christmas party, dance hall, Editorial, moral compass, School parties, vulgarity

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