In the last three weeks, pupils of Roxann’s Learning and Childcare Centre in Morvant, St Francois Girls’ College in Belmont, and South East Secondary School in Port-of-Spain were impacted by the crime in the communities where they are based.
On Friday, the Student Support Services Division (SSSD) hosted a peace walk around Queen’s Park Savannah. The theme - Non-Violence, Safe Communities, Safe Schools - coincides with the United Nations International Day of Non-Violence and the Education Ministry’s Cultural Transformation Policy (2023-2027).
Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Education Ministry Ayanna Gaspard-Clarke said through the policy the SSSD had taken a targeted approach to crime and criminality and added that they had focused heavily on the good citizenship aspect of the policy.
“The initiative is, therefore, not just for addressing conflicts as they arise, it is aimed at preventing violence by embedding proactive strategies that transform negative behaviours,” she explained.
Gaspard-Clarke mentioned that the approach fosters the holistic development of children from early childhood to post-secondary education.
Almost one hundred schools, 74 secondary and 27 primary schools, have been identified. The deputy permanent secretary explained that they have introduced small group interventions aimed at empowering tools for emotional intelligence and conflict resolution.
“These sessions help students develop skills to manage their emotions, understand the feelings of others, and navigate conflict in healthy and productive ways,” Gaspard-Clarke said.
However, she added that they understand that these services need to be extended to the people and communities surrounding the students.
“This approach should not stop at the gates of our school, so we extended these interventions into the wider communities where these schools are situated and by doing so we are addressing the root causes of violence on a broader scale, working not just with students, but also with parents, guardians, and community members,” she shared.
Friday's peace walk saw students from Port-of-Spain and Environs district participating including students from Queen's Royal College, St François Girls' College and Rose Hill RC School. The students held placards calling for peace.
While, primary and secondary school students walked for peace in Port-of-Spain, in San Juan preschool pupils staged their own peace walk.
Principal Avril Mohammed of Mohammed's Preschool in San Juan said they hosted the walk to join the nation’s stance against bullying. She believes children are never too young to learn the right thing.
“So if we correct it from this age, when they move over and do their transition to primary school and secondary we should not have a problem,” she said.
She sent her condolences to the loved ones of Jayden Lalchan who ended his life after repeated bullying earlier this month.