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New panic app & legislation among measures to tackle violence in schools – Parag
(Kaieteur News) – Minister of Education, Sonia Parag on Wednesday night disclosed that the government is looking to establish a new Panic App and legislation as part of its measures to address the issue of bullying and violence in schools.
The Minister spoke about these measures while responding to questions posed by the Opposition during the consideration of budget estimates. WIN Member of Parliament, Dr. Gordon Barker had questioned that given the recent increase in violence in schools and gang threats, what measures will the ministry take to ensure the safe and security of teachers and students.
Minister Parag stated that there are a number of things that are being employed at the moment to tackle bullying. “One of those things was to launch the anti-bullying campaign that is not just a talk shop. It is going to materialise into an MOU followed by action and it is a public consultation, getting the recommendations and suggestions from the public,” she said.
This publication had reported that late last year the ministry launched the anti-bullying campaign and a mobile app for the reporting of such incidents. On Wednesday, the Minister said that right now from that first public consultation, they have received over 500 recommendations and suggestions that they are working through.
“Arising from these consultations, what we are aiming to do, at the very least, is to establish policies that will become standard operating procedures in the school system and at the highest level we would like to look at legislation that will work for the safety and security of our children and teachers, but the ministry we have adopted, and we continue to do that as zero tolerance approach to students hitting teachers,” she explained.
The minister said also that President Irfaan Ali announced on Wednesday that a Panic App will be established, and at the ministry they “will be utilising that as well.”
“So, there are many measures that will be employed over the next year,” the Minister responded. Regarding the Panic App, President Ali while addressing the Annual Police Officers’ Conference on Wednesday morning noted that there are deeply troubling challenges occurring as it relates to domestic abuse, violence and school base gangs.
“We are working now with the technology provider to give us a technology that we can share with at risk women, at risk schools which include a panic system that would allow for more effective support to schools, teachers, parents and women. It is a system that is deployed at scale in Mexico, our technology advisors are examining it and we are going implement similar system here,” the President said.
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